MycoNourish announced as finalist of Converge Challenge 2018

"Dr Orrell’s MycoNourish product customises the interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots to suit specific production systems"

MycoNourish, a product designed by Hutton scientist Peter Orrell, has been announced as finalist of the Converge Challenge 2018, Scotland's leading higher education company creation programme.

Working in symbiosis with plants, mycorrhizal fungi act as a secondary root system, increasing plant health and improving the quantity and quality of crop yields. Dr Orrell’s MycoNourish product customises the interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots to suit specific production systems, giving the best possible benefit to plants, and providing a reliable, sustainable means of improving yields and increasing sustainability.

Previously, Dr Orrell had won the ‘Ready Steady Pitch’ award of the Converge Challenge 2018, which saw entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of experts and industry professionals in just sixty seconds.

Emerging technologies and much-needed industry innovations are showcased by the twenty-three entrepreneurs that have been shortlisted for the final phase of the Converge Challenge 2018.

Ranging from early stage projects to established start-up and spin-out businesses, the finalists will head to Edinburgh on 20th September to take part in the awards ceremony of the 2018 Converge Challenge programme, where a total prize pot of £160,000 and in-kind business support await the winners and runners-up. The full list of finalists is:

Converge Challenge 

• Carbogenics – University of Edinburgh
• Cytochroma – University of Edinburgh
• Kenoteq – Heriot Watt University
• mycoBiologics – University of Aberdeen
• MycoNourish – James Hutton Institute – Dundee
• Teqnox – University of Strathclyde
• Plantinum Informatics – University of Dundee

KickStart

• Silver Lion Innovations Ltd – University of Strathclyde
• HiRes Solutions – Heriot-Watt University
• Vector Photonics – University of Glasgow
• ThermoDrone – Heriot-Watt University
• AquaOmics – University of Highlands & Islands
• Immernova – University of Dundee
• Crover Ltd – University of Edinburgh
• SiMologics – University of Strathclyde
• Infinect – Heriot-Watt University
• Seawater Solutions – University of Strathclyde

Social Enterprise

• One Cherry – University of Edinburgh
• Lilypads – University of Edinburgh
• criticalcarerecovery.com – Edinburgh Napier University
• Youcan Recycling – Abertay University
• CogniHealth – University of Edinburgh
• Health Design Collective – Queen Margaret University

For more details read the Converge Challenge press release.