Number of Employees: 137

Company Mission: “At Host Defense, our mission is to build a bridge between people and fungi by sharing the immune-supportive benefits of mushroom mycelium with the world. Our goal has always been to support human and planetary health by advancing the field of mycology through cutting-edge science, research, and discovery. When I first began cultivating mushrooms in the 1970s, I never imagined how far the field of mycology would come — or how central fungi would become to conversations about health, immune support, and sustainability.” — Paul Stamets

Renowned mycologist Paul Stamets founded Fungi Perfecti in 1980 to “build a bridge between people and fungi.” Today, committed to transparency, efficacy, and consumer trust, the company’s Host Defense line has become the best-selling mushroom supplement brand in the U.S., according to 2024 SPINS data for the natural sales channel.

“I launched the first iterations of what would become the Host Defense Mushrooms product line in the mid-1990s,” Stamets recalled. “At the time, mushroom supplements were relatively unknown in the U.S. market. But as pioneers in the mushroom supplement space, we believed that consumers would gain tremendously from our products.”

Today, “from the forests of the Pacific Northwest to labs around the world to retailers across the country, mushrooms are finally receiving the recognition they deserve,” he added.

Navigating Challenges

The supplement industry, and the mushroom category, continue to attract consumers. But economic conditions present many challenges for businesses, including mounting global uncertainty, ongoing environmental catastrophes, and socio-political unrest.

“We’ve been able to insulate ourselves — at least in part — from global economic concerns by cultivating all our mushroom mycelium and fruiting bodies right here on our certified organic farm in Washington state,” said Steve Cividanes, president and COO.

Meanwhile, informed by its mission to support people and planet, “we’ve become industry leaders on several key initiatives aimed at environmental sustainability and humanitarianism,” he added. “This is evidenced by several notable achievements — particularly our B Corp certification, the fact that we’re 110% climate positive, and our designation as a Leading Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage For US organization.”

For the still-emerging and maturing mushroom supplement industry, a lack of ingredient transparency presents an ongoing challenge.

“At Host Defense, we believe transparency — especially when it comes to what people put into their bodies — isn’t optional; it’s essential,” said Betsy Bullman, vice president of sales and marketing. “Dietary supplements are not required to disclose the exact country of origin, which can lead to reduced oversight and raise concerns about the quality of imported products.”

That’s why Host Defense grows its mushrooms in the U.S. and openly shares information about sourcing, testing, and manufacturing processes.

“We’ve long championed stronger labeling standards and greater industry accountability,” Bullman said. “By choosing products backed by science, formulated by experts, and tested for purity and safety, consumers can feel confident they’re getting the full benefit fungi have to offer.”

New and Noteworthy

This year the company debuted its Host Defense MycoBenefits product line, which pairs U.S.-grown, organic mushroom mycelium with select botanicals, vitamins, and minerals to create unique formulas that target common consumer needs, Bullman said.

“We’re excited to see how MycoBenefits helps people incorporate the power of mushroom mycelium into their wellness routines in a way that’s both easy and effective,” she said.

MycoBenefits includes four formulas in capsule format:

• Focus is designed to support cognitive function, attentiveness, and mental stamina, featuring Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, L-Taurine, choline, and B vitamins.

• Sleep is formulated to support sleep latency and promote more restful, sustained sleep throughout the night. It features Reishi, Lion’s Mane, GABA, vitamin B6, magnesium bis-glycinate, passionflower, and L-Theanine.

• Mood is designed to support a calm and relaxed mind and body, promote emotional balance, and enhance stress adaptation. It features Reishi, Lion’s Mane, ashwagandha, holy basil, 5-HTP, and L-Theanine.

• Beauty is formulated to promote healthy hair, skin, and nails by supporting skin hydration, antioxidant activity, and cellular health. It features Enoki, Chaga, Reishi, hyaluronic acid, biotin, bamboo silica, and an antioxidant fruit blend.

Innovation and R&D

Fungi Perfecti/Host Defense reinvests more than $1 million each year in mycological research, including clinical trials on some of its products, noted Zolton Bair, director of R&D.

“For example, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, we published a clinical trial exploring the benefits of our Turkey Tail mushroom mycelium.”

The company has conducted additional research in collaboration with respected institutions including the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Center for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Bastyr University, Cornell University, the University of Washington, and many more.

“Through our ardent efforts, we strive to demonstrate the enormous potential of mushroom mycelium to support the health of people and planet,” said Bair. “We believe scientific research should be transparent — not hidden behind marketing language. That’s why we maintain an open-access database featuring dozens of peer-reviewed studies on the health benefits of mushrooms.”

The Path Forward

Bullman noted a sense of optimism for the path ahead: “optimism that we can indeed make a real difference with the work we’re doing, optimism that we can influence others to choose sustainable business practices, and optimism that the scientific discoveries we are making will change this planet for the better.”

“As we continue to formulate new products in the coming days,” she added, “we will stand by our mission to build a bridge between people and fungi with the desire to make the world a more prosperous place.”