From urban waste to circular value
At SPORO, we believe in closing local cycles and reducing CO₂ emissions and waste.
Whereas materials such as coffee grounds and brewer's grains are usually burned or fermented, we use them as the base of our circular mushroom substrates. Using our unique, energy-efficient sterilisation method, we produce high-quality substrates that are tailored to the needs of exotic and functional mushrooms.
This way, we offer a scalable and circular solution for urban organic waste streams.
We believe in a future where urban waste regains its value. A future in which circular production, short supply chains, and social inclusion are no longer an exception, but the new norm.
SPORO wants to be at the forefront of this transition. By upcycling urban waste locally, sharing knowledge, and stimulating cooperation, we are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy.
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At SPORO, it is our mission to upcycle urban waste streams into high-quality substrates for mushrooms. We aim to do so locally, efficiently and with social impact. This way, we want to show that waste is not a problem, but a solution to food waste, polluting farming practices and a linear economy that depletes resources.
SPORO's future
SPORO produces substrates for the rapidly growing market for culinary and functional mushrooms with a strong focus on sustainable, local substrate production. Over the past months, we have made huge progress in developing our substrate recipes, building strong partnerships, acquiring funding and designing our factory. We are currently validating our concept and production process in a trial setup. Next, we will scale our production in our demonstration factory, with the aim of reaching a production capacity of 150 tons per year by 2028. By 2029 at the latest, we want to secure funding for our definitive first-of-a-kind factory, which will allow us to further scale up to a capacity of at least 3.000 tons of substrate per year.
Would you like to contribute to the future of sustainable mushroom cultivation?
We'd love to get in touch with partners, investors and innovators who want to join us and make an impact together!
Our team
At SPORO, we believe that real impact occurs when people with different backgrounds work together on a shared mission. Our team combines years of experience in the mushroom sector with technical, biological and business expertise. Together, we are building a circular future for urban waste streams.
Mark is co-founder of SPORO, rotterzwam, Cafaberry and BlueCity. He has worked in the mushroom sector since 2013 and is a pioneer in the transition towards a circular and biobased economy. Through the power of entrepreneurship, he wants to create a more sustainable food system.
Florian is responsible for optimizing SPORO's circular substrate recipes and strategic developments. He has a background in Environmental Biology and has four years of practical experience in circular mushroom cultivation in Rotterzwam, with a strong focus on the valorisation of urban waste streams.
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Mattijs has a technical background and is responsible for the engineering and optimisation of the machines in our factory. He ensures that all technical processes run smoothly and that the installations remain efficient and reliable.
Lisa has a background in sustainability, business operations and societal transitions. At SPORO, she works on increasing our social impact and improving our internal processes. She also works on SPORO's marketing and funding, in addition to her role as a strategic advisor.
Would you like to work with us?
Do you want to build a circular, local and inclusive production chain together? Feel free to contact us - we'd love to work together on impactful solutions.
SPORO is supported by:
SPORO is building a demonstration plant in Rotterdam for the circular production of substrate for functional and exotic mushrooms. In our factory, we convert local urban waste streams into new valuable raw materials, with the aim of building local sustainable food chains and strengthening the circular economy. Our factory is made possible by our partners.
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