The BioRegional Lab at Coed Talylan is a small, off-grid research and training facility focused on applied mycology, ecological monitoring, and bioregional food system development. The lab supports the Farming With Fungi programme, the Refungium project, and wider community science activities by providing practical tools for understanding local biodiversity, cultivating regional fungal strains, and analysing soils and substrates used in horticulture.
Originally established for sterile culture work and mushroom cultivation, the laboratory has expanded through recent infrastructure improvements to support a broader range of services. These include microscopy, molecular identification, soil assessment, field survey support, and the development of horticultural practices that integrate fungal ecology.
Mycology & Indigenous Strains
The lab maintains capacity for isolating and culturing native fungal species from the local landscape. These cultures are used for research, conservation, and the production of mushroom spawn adapted to the environmental conditions of the surrounding bioregion. This approach strengthens resilience in local production systems by enabling growers to work with fungi suited to regional climate, soils, and woodland ecology.
Molecular Identification
A Bento Lab provides low-cost, portable capability for molecular biology, including PCR amplification and DNA barcoding. This allows accurate identification of fungal specimens and supports baseline surveying for the Refungium project and other ecological initiatives. The system makes advanced analysis accessible in a rural, off-grid setting and enables community-science participation in molecular methods.
Soil, Plant, and Ecosystem Monitoring
The laboratory supports soil testing and ecological assessment relevant to agroecological growing systems. Equipment for pH, moisture, and nutrient-related measurements is used alongside off-site elemental analysis for carbon and nitrogen. Field samples are retained for future investigation, including glomalin assessment, microbial diversity studies, and collaborative research with institutions such as the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
The lab also integrates methods involving Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), focusing on propagation techniques that enhance plant–fungus symbiosis. These approaches are applied in the Farming With Fungi market-garden trials to evaluate effects on crop nutrition, soil health, and overall ecosystem function.
Bioregional Knowledge & Applied Research
The BioRegional Lab contributes to building a shared understanding of the local bioregion. By combining microscopy, culture work, molecular tools, field survey equipment, and soil analysis methods, it provides a platform for studying the living systems that underpin food production, woodland ecology, and landscape regeneration.
The aim is to develop practical, place-based knowledge that can be used by growers, land stewards, community groups, and restoration practitioners. The lab acts as a resource for training, experimentation, and collaborative inquiry, supporting a regional approach to food and farming grounded in ecological processes and local biodiversity.