Hifas da Terra, a Galician biotechnology company specialising in mushroom research and mushroom-based products, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Its core values are quality, science and sustainability.
Where it all began
Hifas da Terra grew out of the doctoral thesis of its founder, Dr Catalina Fernández de Ana Portela – a seed that became a small family business in Portamuiños, Bora (Pontevedra, Spain), on land where mushrooms had been cultivated since the 1970s.
In 2006, a terrible fire destroyed most of the facilities. The setback motivated the founders to promote organic and sustainable cultivation, contributing to fire prevention and rural development. In 2007 the company received the Xunta de Galicia's first prize for rural landscaping – the first of fourteen awards, including the 2023 PuntoGal Spin-Off Award.
Research and development
Hifas da Terra reinvests a large share of its profits in research and development, working with universities and research centres on mushroom cultivation, extraction and composition.
Sustainability
- Hifas Green Extraction Technology® – a proprietary extraction process using natural solvents and less energy.
- Organic certification – a member of CRAEGA (Galician Council for Organic Agriculture) for over 20 years.
- Hifas Foresta – the group company applying mycology to the environment, planting more than 50,000 mycorrhizal chestnut trees every year.
- Renewable energy – more than 60 solar panels, two biomass boilers and a geothermal system.
- Packaging – recycled materials and glass instead of plastic wherever possible.
Looking ahead
Hifas da Terra's products are available in 14 countries through its subsidiaries and distributors. The company is part of the Hifas Group, which also includes Hifas Foresta, Hifas Innovation Hub, Hifas Vet and Hifas Biologics.