About Us

Hifas da Terra (HdT) is a biotechnology center focused on research and innovation with a high degree of specialization in the development of nutraceuticals from medicinal mushrooms. This know-how, based on extensive experience around the applications of Mycology to health (Mycotherapy), is the intellectual property of Hifas da Terra and has a high economic value.

Research and innovation areas in applied Mycology:
Human health
Animal health
Environmental rehabilitation

Our Founders

Catalina F. de Ana Portela

Founder and CEO of Hifas da Terra. Biologist, Mycologist, Mycotherapist. PhD in Clinical Research in Oncology at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC). Coauthor of the Mycotherapy book 12 medicinal mushrooms.

Esteban Sinde Stompel, Phd

General assistant manager of Mycological Production and R&D of Hifas da Terra. PhD in Biology from the University of Santiago and environmental engineer from the University of Göttingen. President of the Forest Technology Platform of Galicia (Devesa).

Francisco F. de Ana Magán, PHD

President Emeritus and former director of R&D. Head of the Phytopathology section at the Forestry Research Center of Lourizán (1988-2009). Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain of the FAO in Rome. President of the Forest Association of Galicia.

Awards

Recognition for Innovation 2014 in the XIV National Young Entrepreneur Award

Spanish Food Award 2016 to the Ecological Production

Biotechnology and innovation that crosses borders

At Hifas da Terra we are pioneers in the development of innovative nutritional supplements. We’re present in France, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and China. We’ve been recognized with 13 awards not only for our innovativation and business excellence but also our commitment to the revitalization of rural areas and the conservation of the environment.

Oncology

Demonstration of the synergistic activity of HdT extracts with chemotherapy treatments in tumor cells.
Determination of the anti-migratory effect on tumor cells by different cellular assays.
Elucidation of the antiproliferative effect on human colon carcinoma cells from different extracts of cultivated fungal species (Fungitech Onco, 2015).
Identification by molecular methods of new strains of medicinal species with anticancer potential Reishi and Maitake, isolated in different forests of Galicia (Fungitech Onco, 2016).

Liver safety

Evaluation of the inhibitory potential of the fungal extracts included in the formulations of the Micosalud line on the main isoforms of CYP450 (CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C9).
The test shows that, in the concentrations used, there is no interaction of the extracts of Hifas da Terra on the cytochrome P450 enzymes evaluated (Medina Foundation, Center of Excellence in Investigation of Innovative Medicines in Andalusia).

Cardiovascular health

Start-up of the first clinical trial with patients in which they will select ingredients with medicinal properties to reduce the incidence of the metabolic syndrome (Feder-Innterconecta, 2017).

Compounds with anti aging effect antiaging

Development of a new serum formulated with extracts of fungi that has shown to have greater antioxidant activity than other serums in the market (CompetInnova, 2014).

Clinical trials: pipeline 2017-2022

Five-Year Pipeline of Hifas da Terra Clinical Trials

Lines of research

Cancer Diabetes Neurodegenerative diseases Cardiovascular diseases Autoimmune diseases

Talent, rigor and commitment to fight cancer

Scientific evidence shows that fungi have a great potential to help people who face cancer: they reduce the side effects of chemo and radiotherapy and favor the body’s response to these treatments. In collaboration with research centers and hospitals around the world, from our scientific department we carry out clinical trials and scientific studies that allow us to expand the areas of action of fungi and evaluate their use safely and effectively

R&D projects in Oncology

Standards of excellence in HdT

In Hifas da Terra, we have one of the largest private fungal stocks in Europe and develop new cultivation techniques optimized to achieve homogeneous production with high concentrations of active ingredients. From these, we obtain the pure standardized ecological extracts that we use as the basis of our formulas.

Production processes

CARBON FOOTPRINT

We collaborate with networks of local producers, consolidating a sustainable economy and producing more oxygen than we consume by planting 120,000 trees per year. We bet on the recovery of autochthonous forest species such as chestnut trees, which help to conserve traditional ecosystems, and we work for the dissemination of mycology by offering crop products and accessories inspired by the nature that surrounds us; all this to continue with our work as researchers.