In the forests of Northeast India, Dr. Sandeep Das stumbled upon a strange sight - Cordyceps, a rare parasitic mushroom growing out of dead insects. Known for its powerful medicinal properties - from boosting immunity to fighting fatigue - Cordyceps is rare, expensive (₹2 lakh/kg), and endangered.

Back in 2012, while researching single-cell proteins at Bodoland University, Assam, Dr. Das saw potential. But harvesting it from the wild was unsustainable. His solution? Cultivating Cordyceps Militaris on rice - a method that’s ethical, affordable, and scalable. This breakthrough transformed Cordyceps from an exotic fungus into an accessible health supplement.

His impact goes beyond the lab:

• Trained 2,600+ farmers in mushroom cultivation

• Empowered women-led self-help groups to earn livelihoods

• Perfected freeze-drying tech to preserve its nutritional value

• Set up a ₹6 crore government-backed research and incubation centre

Dr. Das’s mission is bigger than profits. He aims to decode the untapped potential of fungi and turn India’s forests into bio-innovation hubs. In his words: “We aren’t just growing Cordyceps; we’re cultivating knowledge, health, and hope.”

From dead insects to rural empowerment, this is mushroom science with a soul.