About
Rhizocore Technologies is a UK-based applied mycology company dedicated to restoring the underground fungal networks that are essential for healthy forests. When trees are felled, the symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi in the soil quickly die, making replanting harder and leading to slower growth, higher tree mortality, and reduced carbon capture. Rhizocore addresses this problem with RhizoPellets™ — biodegradable pellets containing locally adapted, site-specific mycorrhizal fungi that are placed in the soil alongside young saplings at the time of planting. By matching fungal strains to each specific planting site, Rhizocore maximises compatibility and performance. Trees treated with RhizoPellets™ show measurably improved growth rates, stronger drought and disease resistance, and up to 20% greater tree and soil carbon storage compared to untreated saplings. The solution can also save land managers up to £400 per hectare in management costs. Rhizocore's approach is rooted in working with nature rather than against it — using native, non-GMO fungi to create sustainable, long-term ecosystem benefits. The company serves forestry professionals, conservation organisations, land managers, and government-funded woodland creation schemes across the UK. Their work supports biodiversity, natural capital accounting, and climate change mitigation goals, making them a key partner in large-scale reforestation and rewilding projects.
Key Features
- RhizoPellets™ — Site-Specific Fungal Inoculant: Biodegradable pellets containing locally sourced, bespoke mycorrhizal fungi matched to each individual planting site for maximum sapling compatibility and establishment success.
- Improved Tree Growth Rates: Application of the right fungal strains has produced measurable increases in sapling growth rates, giving newly planted trees a significant head start.
- Enhanced Tree Resilience: Trees inoculated with RhizoPellets™ develop stronger resistance to drought and root diseases, potentially saving land managers up to £400 per hectare in management costs.
- Increased Carbon Sequestration: Use of RhizoPellets™ boosts combined tree and soil carbon capture by up to 20%, strengthening forest carbon sinks and supporting net-zero commitments.
- Mycoremediation Services: Beyond tree planting, Rhizocore offers mycoremediation solutions that leverage fungal biology to address broader environmental and soil health challenges.
Use Cases
- Large-scale commercial forestry operations looking to improve sapling survival rates and reduce replanting costs after clear-felling.
- Government and charity-led woodland creation schemes aiming to meet national tree-planting targets with higher success rates.
- Estate and land managers seeking to increase natural capital value through improved forest productivity and biodiversity.
- Carbon project developers who need to maximise and verify carbon sequestration from newly planted woodland.
- Conservation and rewilding organisations restoring degraded or former agricultural land to native woodland habitats.
Pros
- Nature-Based & Sustainable: Uses native, locally adapted fungi rather than synthetic inputs, making the approach ecologically sound and aligned with natural regeneration principles.
- Proven Performance Gains: Delivers quantifiable improvements in growth rates, disease resistance, and carbon capture, providing a clear return on investment for forestry and land management projects.
- Site-Specific Customisation: Fungal strains are selected and matched to each planting site, ensuring optimal compatibility rather than a one-size-fits-all inoculant.
- Supports Multiple ESG Goals: A single product contributes to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, natural capital, and cost savings — making it attractive for organisations with broad sustainability mandates.
Cons
- UK-Focused Availability: Products and case studies are primarily focused on the UK market, which may limit accessibility for international reforestation projects at present.
- Site Assessment Required: The bespoke, site-specific nature of RhizoPellets™ means projects require an upfront assessment process rather than an off-the-shelf purchase, adding lead time.
- Early-Stage Company: As a startup, the scale of production and range of supported species or biomes may still be growing, which could constrain very large or diverse planting programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are RhizoPellets™ and how do they work?
RhizoPellets™ are biodegradable pellets containing live mycorrhizal fungi that are locally sourced and matched to a specific planting site. They are introduced into the soil alongside a young sapling at planting, where the fungi colonise the tree's roots and form a symbiotic network that helps the tree absorb water and nutrients more efficiently.
Why do mycorrhizal fungi disappear after trees are felled?
Mycorrhizal fungi depend on living tree roots for carbon — their primary food source. When trees are harvested, the fungi lose this supply and quickly die out. Without these fungi, replanted saplings struggle to establish, leading to slower growth and higher mortality rates.
How much does carbon capture improve with RhizoPellets™?
Based on Rhizocore's case study data, using RhizoPellets™ can increase combined tree and soil carbon capture by up to 20% compared to untreated saplings, significantly strengthening forest carbon sinks.
What types of organisations can use Rhizocore's products?
Rhizocore works with forestry professionals, conservation bodies, land managers, estate owners, and government-funded woodland creation schemes. Any organisation involved in tree planting or woodland restoration in the UK can benefit from RhizoPellets™.
Does Rhizocore offer services beyond tree planting?
Yes. In addition to RhizoPellets™ for woodland regeneration, Rhizocore offers mycoremediation services, which use fungal biology to address soil contamination and other environmental challenges.
