Several North American mushroom businesses have formed the Functional Mushroom Council, a nonprofit that made its public debut at SupplySide Global. The group aims to coordinate industry research and discuss quality standards for functional mushroom production in 2026. Planned work includes studies on bioactive compound profiles, quality parameters, and the impact of mushroom ingredients across all life cycle stages. The council also intends to outline how North American-grown functional mushrooms compare with imported material.
Founding members include Fungi Perfecti, M2 Ingredients, Monterey Mushrooms, Aloha Medicinals, Mycopia, and Far West Fungi. These companies will provide cultivation and production expertise and contribute to research, education, and information-sharing across the North American sector.
Julie Daoust, chair of the council, said: "People have benefitted from functional mushrooms for thousands of years, and North American growers have been cultivating them for decades. As the industry has grown, so have concerns around ingredient quality and labeling accuracy. Today, we're working together to establish North America as a leader in mushrooms."
The U.S. functional mushroom market reached US$1.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to between US$2 billion and US$2.2 billion in 2025. Growth is occurring across supplements, beverages, and foods, with functional mushroom coffees noted as one driver of demand. North America is described as one of the fastest-growing regions globally, with expansion across direct-to-consumer, online, and in-store channels.
According to Amir Karian, vice chair of the council, "Until recently, many brands had to source their functional mushroom ingredients from imported or foreign suppliers. But that dynamic has changed. North America's growers, the same who came together to form the Functional Mushroom Council, have rapidly scaled their capacity, quality systems, and scientific infrastructure to meet the needs of this booming category. Today, brands no longer need to rely on overseas suppliers. They can partner directly with North American growers who produce organically grown, functional mushrooms."
The council plans to use grower input to support research priorities and continue discussions around transparency and production protocols for functional mushrooms.
Source: Nutraceuticals World
