Sofía Castellanos

Colombian biologist revitalizing Amazon rainforest ecosystems through mycoremediation

Sofía Castellanos, a Colombian mycologist, has pioneered groundbreaking techniques using fungi to restore biodiversity in Amazonian deforested areas. Her organization MycoAmazon has planted over 5 million mycelium networks across 12,000+ hectares since 2020, accelerating forest regeneration by 400% compared to traditional reforestation methods. This approach not only restores ecosystems but also sequesters carbon at twice the rate of conventional methods.

Castellanos' innovation lies in her discovery of Agaricus blazei strains native to Colombia that hyper-accumulate heavy metals. These fungi detoxify contaminated soils while creating nutrient-rich environments for native tree species. Her 2023 study published in Nature Sustainability demonstrated that mycoremediation plots achieved 98% native species recovery within 5 years, versus 12% in control areas.

In 2024, she developed the world's first mobile mycelium bioreactor - a portable unit that produces 500kg of mycelium daily using recycled agricultural waste. This technology has been adopted by Peru's Ministry of Environment to combat mercury pollution from illegal gold mining. Her work was highlighted in the documentary Fungal Frontiers (2025), which won the Green Film Festival Award for Environmental Impact.

Castellanos' latest initiative, the Amazon Mycelium Network, connects 200+ Indigenous communities across three countries to share fungal cultivation techniques. This collaboration has empowered local tribes to lead their own restoration projects while preserving traditional ecological knowledge. Her research earned her the Whitley Gold Award for conservation leadership in 2025.