GREEN ISLAND – Ecovative is acquiring Lambert Spawn Europa, a mushroom spawn production facility in the Netherlands, from Pennsylvania-based Lambert Spawn Company.

The purchase vertically integrates a major source of mushroom substrate – mixtures of raw agricultural products inoculated with specialised mushroom strains – within the operations of the developer of mycelium materials and products. The Lambert line supports Ecovative’s rapid expansion internationally as both a producer and supplier to other mycelium companies.

The Dutch plant will continue producing spawn to serve its list of existing clients and also produce proprietary blends of substrate used to grow mycelium materials to support Ecovative’s Forager and Mushroom Packaging divisions, as well as the My Forest Foods and My Bacon brands, and a growing list of licensee companies.

Forager will use the substrate to supply natural mycelium materials for the fashion and apparel industries, such as leather-like hides and high performance foams, and Mushroom Packaging will use the substrate to produce composite materials used to replace plastic foam packaging.

“Ecovative is committed to providing the world’s best mycelium technologies,” says Eben Bayer, Ecovative’s CEO and co-founder. “We’re working closely with Lambert and the facility’s team of industry professionals to continue providing existing clients with the same quality products they know and love. This acquisition also positions our company to ensure the highest quality of feedstock for a wide range of new mycelium materials, enabling the best possible products and the capacity to supply our quickly growing global network of customers and licensees as they continue to expand over the coming years.”

Ecovative already operates the largest production plant for mycelium materials in the world, at its base of operations in Green Island, New York.