MycoFarming – a VU-born startup proudly supported by Demonstrator Lab – is one of the ten finalists in the Academic Startup Competition 2025. Their solution uses fungal mycelium to naturally reduce nitrogen pollution in agriculture.

A sustainable solution to nitrogen pollution earns national recognition 

Reducing nitrogen emissions is one of the biggest challenges in Dutch agriculture today. Now, a promising Amsterdam-based startup is taking a natural route to address it—by working with fungi. MycoFarming, a startup supported by the Demonstrator Lab and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has been selected as one of the top 10 finalists of the Academic Startup Competition 2025. This recognition places the venture among the most promising science-based startups in the Netherlands. 

Fungal innovation with a global future
MycoFarming uses a technique called mycofiltration, where fungal mycelium is deployed to filter out nitrogen compounds from agricultural water runoff. This natural process breaks down pollutants without the need for harmful chemicals or energy-intensive infrastructure. Not only is mycofiltration safe and effective, it also emits ten times less CO₂ than current mechanical alternatives—making it a breakthrough in sustainable farming practices. 

The team behind MycoFarming is made up of young researchers and entrepreneurs who combine environmental science, biotechnology and system thinking. What started as a research idea at VU Amsterdam has grown into a scalable solution for farmers and policymakers facing increasingly strict nitrogen reduction targets. 

From lab to global impact
As a finalist of the Academic Startup Competition, MycoFarming will take part in the U.S. Preparation Trip in London, where the team will fine-tune their international expansion strategy and connect with investors, mentors, and partners. The goal: to bring mycofiltration not just to the Dutch countryside, but to the global agricultural stage. 

At IXA and Demonstrator Lab, we’re proud to support startups like MycoFarming that show what happens when academic research meets entrepreneurial drive. Their recognition is a testament to the power of university ecosystems in delivering real-world impact—and to the potential of nature-based innovation in shaping a more sustainable future.