Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Petrochemical additives, including Surfactants, contribute about 5% to global CO2 emissions and could be toxic. There is a critical need for sustainable alternatives to achieve the 2050 net-zero emissions goal. Surfactants (ingredients allowing the mix of different phases like water and oil) play a pivotal role across several industries such as cleaning, food, and Oil & Gas, with limited sustainable alternatives currently available in the market.  
Fungi Life seeks to transform the industry using fungal biotechnology to obtain a wide portfolio of sustainable, efficient and cost-competitive ingredients. Starting with the Oil and Gas sector, we developed a 100% safe biosurfactant with  several applications: i) Active ingredient to increase productivity, extending the life-spam in mature wells, improve energy efficiency, and replace synthetic chemicals and; ii) Reduction of environmental impacts, through bioremediation of water and soil polluted with oil spills. Differentiated by circularity, we use agro-industrial waste and polluted water in a low-emission fermentation process. The result is a high-performance sophorolipid biosurfactant that reduces GHG emissions and restores ecosystems.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Our project adopts a comprehensive approach to emissions mitigation and ecosystem adaptation. Our production process focuses on valorizing agro-industrial waste, thereby averting emissions associated with uncontrolled disposal, estimated at 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By substituting fossil-derived surfactants with biosurfactants, we can potentially reduce CO2 emissions by 8%, amounting to approximately 1.5 × 106 t of CO2. Moreover, this reduction could be even greater when utilizing agro-industrial waste as a primary raw material.

The integration of biosurfactants into oil extraction and transportation processes facilitates the creation of easily pumpable fluids, thereby enhancing energy efficiency and obviating the need for additional diesel combustion. Furthermore, biosurfactants can augment oil extraction efficiency by up to 40%, thus circumventing the necessity for drilling new wells. Consequently, the carbon footprint per barrel may decrease by up to 15%.

Additionally, our project has validated the efficacy of bioremediation techniques in remediating polluted soils and wastewater, leading to the elimination of up to 90% of hydrocarbon pollution. This restoration effort contributes significantly to environmental sustainability and ecosystem health.

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Fungi Life is committed to fostering inclusivity and making a meaningful impact in climate-vulnerable communities. Notably, two out of three of our co-founders are women, exemplifying our dedication to diversity. Operating in low-income countries such as Colombia and Argentina, we strive to bring the benefits of our biotechnological solutions to underserved regions. Through this, we aim to empower local communities, particularly women, by creating opportunities for economic growth, fostering sustainability, and mitigating the impact of climate-related challenges.

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