From Prague to Robotics: How Our Mushrooms Inspire Science and Flavour

At our mushroom farm near Prague, we spend our days cultivating fresh oyster mushrooms, fragrant shiitake, and fluffy lion’s mane mushrooms for home cooks and restaurant chefs alike. We’ve always admired the quiet intelligence of fungi—the way they sense humidity, adapt to shade, and create earthy flavors that elevate every dish.

So when we discovered scientists had built robots controlled by mushrooms, we knew we had to share the story. Yes, you read that right: mushrooms with the power to steer machines.

The Science: Mushrooms with a Mind of Their Own

Recently, researchers from Cornell University and the University of Florence created “biohybrid” robots powered by the electrical signals of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) mycelia. By embedding the living mycelium into robot electronics, the team could measure and interpret its natural electrical pulses.

When stimulated with UV light, the mycelium produced spikes of electricity. These signals were then converted into commands that allowed small robots—one shaped like a starfish and another on wheels—to crawl and roll across a surface.

Why mushrooms? They’re incredibly resilient, able to survive in conditions that would damage other living cells. Mycelia can sense light, temperature, touch, and even chemical changes in their environment. The scientists believe this technology could one day help robots monitor soil health, detect pollution, or even respond to environmental changes in real time.

From the Lab to the Farm: A Shared Intelligence

While we don’t have robots roaming our farm in Prague, we see that same fungal sensitivity every day. Mushrooms constantly “listen” to their surroundings—adjusting growth depending on moisture, airflow, and temperature.

It’s this natural responsiveness that makes our oyster mushrooms plump and delicate, our shiitake rich with umami, and our lion’s mane mushrooms so tender they pull apart like crab meat. We believe that understanding mushrooms—whether in a laboratory or on a farm—means producing something truly exceptional.

Why This Matters to Us

This breakthrough shows just how remarkable fungi are, both in science and in the kitchen. The same mycelial networks that can drive a robot are also behind the depth of flavour in your risotto, ramen, or mushroom pâté.

By choosing locally grown mushrooms from a farm near Prague, you’re not just getting fresher produce—you’re tasting the benefits of careful cultivation, guided by the same environmental awareness scientists are now exploring in robotics.

Where to Find Our Mushrooms in Prague

You can enjoy our mushrooms by:

• Ordering directly from our farm for fresh oyster, shiitake, and lion’s mane mushrooms in Prague.

• Finding them in dishes at selected Prague restaurants that value seasonal, local ingredients.

• Visiting us during open farm days to learn more about how we grow and harvest.

Curious to try mushrooms that inspire both chefs and scientists?
Contact us today to order, or visit our stand at the next Prague farmers’ market. Taste the difference that nature’s intelligence—and a little Czech care—can make.

Follow the latest news on this topic directly from the source : Cornell Chronicle