Yeasts, edible mould, penicillin – fungi play a substantial role in food production and medicine as well as in scientific research. There are more species of fungi than of plants, fish and mammals put together, and, after bacteria, fungi are the most widespread form of life on earth. Nonetheless, fewer than 10% of their species are known. In the LOEWE research cluster Integrative Fungal Research, biodiversity researchers work with biochemists, biotechnologies and molecular geneticists to expand knowledge of a range of different fungi, to establish new possibilities for their use and to develop new production procedures. They produce, for instance, antibiotics, platform chemicals, surface coatings and antioxidants for industry, medicine and food production.