Meet our chief mycologist. Explore our mission and key milestones we’re achieving on our mission to share the power of mushrooms.

Our Mission

Host Defense is built on Paul Stamets’ visionary research into the power and potential of mushrooms, especially mushroom mycelium, the root-like structures found growing below ground. The power of Host Defense comes from the discovery that the mycelium is the immune system of the mushroom.

Just as mycelium helps to support the immune system of humans, it also supports the health and immunity of the natural habitats where it grows. Mushroom mycelium is a cellular bridge connecting bees, trees, bears, plants and humans to the ecosystems in which they live. Our work is to build a healthier world with the power of mushrooms.

Our Global Mission

We are driven by our mission to fund research involving fungi exploring the benefits of people and planet.

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COLLABORATE

with doctors to help support immunity and health

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PROTECT

the natural environment and all its inhabitants

Paul Stamets

PIONEER

strategies to save the honey bee using mushrooms and fungi

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EDUCATE

communities about growing mushrooms for food

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DEVELOP

filtration methods to clean water using mushroom mycelium

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AID

agriculture and forest health by building soil with beneficial fungi

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INVEST

in integrated mushroom technologies to break down or neutralize toxic

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REPLACE

toxic pesticides with natural, non-toxic, non-invasive mushroom-based solutions

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ENCOURAGE

research to develop new biofuels using fungi

About Paul Stamets, Founder of Host Defense

Paul’s philosophy is that “MycoDiversity is BioSecurity.” He sees the ancient Old Growth forests of the Pacific Northwest as a resource of incalculable value, especially in terms of its fungal genome. A dedicated hiker and explorer, his passion is to preserve and protect as many ancestral strains of mushrooms as possible from these pristine woodlands. His research is considered a breakthrough by thought leaders for creating a paradigm shift for helping ecosystems worldwide.

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Annual Highlights

Starship FP [Fungi Perfecti® + Host Defense®]

Now Has: 100+ myconauts (aka employees)

2020

Host Defense® celebrated 10 years

Being independent & direct to stores and consumers

Host Defense celebrated 10 years
2021

Give Bees A Chance

Contributed another $50,000 to Washington State University towards bee research on Colony Collapse Disorder.

give bees a chance
2021

Launched Micro-Dosing App

Check out microdose.me to track the effects of mushroom supplements against baseline health

2021

Research published

In BMC Complementary Medicine & Therapies – validated immune benefits of mushroom mycelium & fermented substrate by peer-reviewed science

mycelium research
2021

Nature: Scientific Reports

Study showing the benefits of mushroom mycelium extracts for the supporting health in honey bee populations in peer-reviewed research in the Top 1% of more than 270,000 articles published

PLANNING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Sustainability Report 2019

Sustainability has been an intrinsic thread woven into the
fabric of our company from the beginning. As we’ve grown
over the past 40 years, how we define and implement
sustainability has also evolved.

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As seen in

In the Media

TED | 6 ways mushrooms can save the world

Paul Stamets at TEDMED 2011

Joe Rogan Experience #1035​ | Paul Stamets

Exponential Medicine | Paul Stamets: Mycology and Mushrooms as Medicines

Where to Buy

Find our Mushrooms in-store or online

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