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M2 Ingredients, a vertically integrated functional mushroom grower based in California, US, is set to open its brand-new M2 Center of Innovation next month – an advanced R&D lab designed to accelerate functional mushroom product development.

The purpose-built facility will bring together experienced functional mushroom R&D teams to support brands developing next-generation functional foods, beverages and supplements across formats including RTDs, ready-to-mix powders, gummies, shots, bars and more.

It complements M2's existing 155,000-square-foot mushroom cultivation facility, located in Vista, California, opened in early 2025. The site operates around the clock to grow ten premium mushroom species, including turkey tail, lion's mane, cordyceps and reishi (pictured below).

The centre’s full vertical integration with M2’s cultivation, processing and scientific research teams will enable the company to more easily address common formulation challenges surrounding functional mushroom product development. These include solubility, suspension, flavour pairing and sensory performance, to be addressed at the ingredient level.

Jay Schmalz, R&D innovation manager at M2 Ingredients, will lead the centre with support from M2’s team of food scientists, formulation experts and researchers.

The facility will formally open on 2 February 2026, available for active collaboration with food, beverage and supplement brand partners, with the goal of helping them more quickly and efficiently from product concept to market-ready innovation.

 Jeff Rogers, CEO of M2 Ingredients, described the site’s inauguration as a “major step forward” for M2 and the broader functional mushroom industry.

“Brands have historically had to choose between ingredient suppliers and true innovation partners,” he commented. “The M2 Center of Innovation eliminates trade-off by combining deep scientific rigour with real-world formulation and application expertise. This will be a powerful asset for our partner brands and a catalyst for faster, more confident innovation.”

Chief science officer Julie Daoust said the centre was shaped by her own experience leading R&D and innovation teams on the consumer brand side earlier in her career.

“This is the partner I always wished I had when I was responsible for bringing new products to market,” she explained. “The M2 Center of Innovation allows brands to innovate without having to build a full internal R&D infrastructure, while still delivering products that truly work.”