Mycélium: a project dedicated to forests
March 06 2025Climate change, which is becoming increasingly prevalent, is causing an increase in forest mortality. Forest ecosystems are being disrupted and threatened by both climatic and non-climatic stresses. In response to this problematic situation, Mathieu Penet, a third-year student in the forestry management engineering course at the Nancy campus, came up with an idea… Interview with this student with a passion for forests.
Hello Mathieu. Before telling us about your project, could you introduce yourself and your background?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by forests and forest management. From high school onwards, I wanted to make a living from this passion and turn it into my profession. That’s how I discovered AgroParisTech and the forestry engineering course. I passed a baccalauréat S and then did a DUT in agronomy in Nancy, where I learned a lot about agriculture. But being a rather average student, I wasn’t sure I could get into AgroParisTech. At the same time, I discovered an interest in TEDx. I found out that AgroParisTech was looking for candidates to speak on the theme “Explore your world”. I applied and was lucky enough to be selected to speak about my passion for forests! This experience was my ticket in, and it was thanks to my passion that I was able to join the school and train as an engineer.
How did you come up with the idea for this project?
I came up with the idea during my first year at AgroParisTech. The starting point was the observation that climate change was transforming and disrupting the forest landscape. What can be done to renew it, given that tree planting is an onerous task and there is little manpower available? My idea was to use satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to improve silvicultural management decisions. I first created a project, Forest Data, which I submitted to the “Creativity” jury organized by the AgroParisTech Foundation.
Can you tell us about your current project?
In my second year, some students contacted me on LinkedIn about my Forest Data project. I joined their team, and together we presented a new project, Mycélium, to the “Maturation” and “Entreprendre” juries. We then joined Forest’InnLab, La Fabrique de CentraleSupélec and the incubator 21st de CentraleSupélec to receive support in the development of the project. With the Mycélium project, we developed the principle of reforestation by drone. This technology makes it possible to drop coated forest seeds to optimize the growth of seedlings, offering a fast and effective method of recreating sustainable ecosystems. We use a variety of tree species to create a resilient ecosystem that adapts well to climate change. Our aim is to offer foresters a service that is cheaper and much faster than what is currently available on the market, while adapting to each project to build more resilient forests. For the moment, Mycélium is in the testing phase. We’re setting up experiments with forest managers, and the first 10 plantings will take place in the spring of 2025. We’ll have to wait several months to see the first results and make sure the project works, before we can market the solution.
Have you encountered any difficulties in developing the Mycélium project?
Yes, we did run into technical difficulties with forest seed coating, due to a lack of experience and knowledge on our side. Coating offers a means of making the growth process faster and more efficient, so it’s a necessary part of our solution. The coating process is a technique that requires a minimum of knowledge, which is why it’s so important for us to be well supported by Forest’InnLab and research laboratories.
A final word?
In your twenties and with a degree from AgroParisTech, we don’t take any risks when it comes to launching a project. So go for it, surround yourself with the right people and don’t give up!