The LIFE MySOIL project celebrated the successful culmination of its journey with its Final Event held on May 21st, 2025, both online and in-person at the facilities of Eurecat in Manresa (Spain).
The event brought together experts, researchers, and stakeholders from across Europe to explore the achievements of the project and the promising future of mycoremediation for sustainable soil decontamination.
Over the past four years, LIFE MySOIL has demonstrated the potential of fungal-based technologies to clean up oil-contaminated soils through eco-friendly, cost-effective strategies. This event provided a unique opportunity to share key outcomes, lessons learned, and next steps in advancing mycoremediation as a viable solution for environmental restoration.
The event began with a welcome and overview by Jofre Herrero, Technical Coordinator of LIFE MySOIL and researcher at Eurecat’s Water, Air and Soil Unit. He emphasized the project’s innovative use of fungi in soil decontamination and its broader relevance in addressing global environmental challenges.
Attendees were then guided through the practical implementation of mycoremediation across France, Italy, and Spain.
In France, Laurent Thannberger, Scientific Director at VALGO, and mycologist Ilaria Chicca from Novobiom presented how mycoremediation was applied in their industrial context to regenerate polluted land.
In Italy, Alessandro D’Annibale, senior researcher at the University of La Tuscia, and Fiora Bagnato from Eni Rewind shared their experience bridging scientific innovation and industrial application to treat hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. For its part, the Spanish case study was presented by Rafael Antón from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and consultant Jorge Diamantino from KEPLER.
The discussion then turned to broader implementation with Jofre Herrero presenting key findings on replicability and transferability, offering practical guidelines for other actors interested in adopting this technology.
After a Q&A and a coffee break, the event resumed with a session that addressed new funding opportunities for continuing innovation in mycoremediation, presented by Rafael Antón.
This was followed by a presentation from Montserrat Sarrà, associate professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, who discussed the potential of fungal systems to treat emerging pollutants, an increasingly relevant topic in environmental protection.
The final technical presentation came from Humberto Castillo, postdoctoral researcher at Université Marie & Louis Pasteur, who showcased how fungi can work in synergy with poplar roots to enhance phytoremediation, drawing from findings in the pHYBi project.
The Final Event not only celebrated what LIFE MySOIL has accomplished but also laid a foundation for further collaboration and innovation in the field of fungal bioremediation.
