The Tobias Revell modified mushrooms are bringing the Dharavi slums out of poverty by providing heat, light and building material to the residents.
These biotechnological saviors started off as samples from a Dutch lab in Amsterdam. The fungi was engineered to grow at a rapid rate. Police in Europe discovered that several operations attempted to adapt the material for narcotics use. Tobias Revell, a British designer, found that the toadstools made their way to the overpopulated Dharavi slum, where educated citizens harnessed the plant for energy use. In creating a 'New Mumbai,' these large canopies are spreading across balconies and rooftops of apartment buildings, citing that one or two of the large and natural structures are able to power an entire building.
This breakthrough concept could be brought to the Western world, where we could also make use of the simple but powerful technology.
City-Powering Toadstools
The Tobias Revell Modified Mushrooms Provide Heat and Light to Mumbai
Trend Themes
1. Biotechnological Energy Solutions - The use of fungi to provide heat, light, and building material represents a new trend in biotechnological solutions for energy problems.
2. Micro Scale Renewable Energy Production - The ability of these mushrooms to power entire buildings in a micro scale through biotechnological engineering is a trend that could disrupt traditional renewable energy production methods.
3. Sustainable Urban Design - The integration of biotechnology such as mushroom-based architecture in urban design represents a trend towards more sustainable and innovative approaches in city planning.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - Renewable energy companies could benefit from investing in biotechnological innovations such as mushroom-based energy solutions.
2. Architecture and Design - The integration of biotechnology in urban architecture and design represents a promising industry for designers and architects looking to create sustainable and innovative solutions.
3. Biotechnology - The development of biotechnological solutions for energy problems, such as the engineered mushrooms in Mumbai, presents a growing industry for biotech companies.