Rare Endophyte Collectors Club

Project work For the Center for Genomic Gastronomy. [2017]. My involvement was in field research, documentation, video editing, and concept brainstorming. The Rare Endophytes Collectors Club is a DIY research initiative with many different chapters and workshops in different locations around the world. Its goal is to locate and identify endophytes from local plants.

‘At the Rare Endophyte Collectors Club (RECC) biological hobbyists meet to identify, discuss and trade information about new, rare and hard to access microorganisms. The race is on: who will get to unlock, collect and share the secrets of the microbiome era?

Endophytes are the microorganisms, especially fungi, that live inside of plants. The relationship between an endophyte and its host plant is not well understood, but some of these microorganisms are believed to enhance host growth and nutrient acquisition, as well as improve the plant’s ability to tolerate abiotic stresses. Researchers around the world are isolating novel endophytes to investigate their potential agricultural or even pharmaceutical applications.’