About
Peter Petros — applied mycologist and engineer.
I started Sienet Solutions to share my knowledge in applied fungi. Years working in the medicinal-mushroom industry as an R&D lead gave insights into the existing industrial gaps. I moved to Academia to remain at the open edges of the field. Happy to help as an applied fungi think tank.
Background
Engineering, then fungi, then the market
Trained as a civil, water-resources and environmental engineer. Helped a startup medicinal mushroom company grown into one of Europe's biggest. Deepening knowledge via applied mycology research: fungal bioconversion of biomass residues, mycelium-based materials, paludiculture feedstocks.
Seven years in the industry leading R&D on medicinal mushroom compounds, drying, grinding, UV-irradiation, extraction methods, formulation and quality control for functional-food ingredients. Most consulting questions still come from there.
Fungal biotechnology is expanding rapidly and policy-makers deserve to catch-up. I work in that gap — with a passion for healthier bioeconomies, waste-stream utilisation and land/water remediation projects.
Scope
Expertise
Medicinal mushrooms & bioactives
Species and strain selection; target compounds — β-glucans, triterpenes, hericenones and others; what the evidence supports.
Cultivation & fermentation
Liquid culture, spawn, substrate design, solid-state fermentation, grow-room, -ponics and factory layout, bioreactor design and scale-up.
Extraction & formulation
Upstream and downstream processing, solvent selection, solid-to-liquid ratios, machine technology, drying & encapsulation, stability and quality-control specifications.
Food regulatory affairs
Market-by-market routes for new ingredients — EFSA novel food, US FDA and self-affirmed GRAS, TGA — and the dossiers.
Circular bioeconomy
Organic residues and side-streams as fungal feedstock and materials; biorefinery and biofabrication concepts.
Nature-based solutions
Mycorestoration, mycorrhizal and soil-function work, peatland and paludiculture value creation, carbon and biodiversity design.
Process
Working together
A single consultation, or a defined work package with goals, deliverables and a defined scope. Sessions are scheduled video meetings with slides and written summaries. Every engagement begins with a 45-minute intro call at no charge; if I am not the right person for the question, I will say so.