Catalina Fernández de Ana Portela, founder and CEO of Hifas da Terra, has spent more than 25 years championing an approach to biotechnology founded on scientific rigour, long-term vision and a commitment to people. In an interview with Forbes España, the biologist, mycologist and cum laude PhD in clinical oncology research explains the principles that have guided Hifas da Terra’s growth, establishing it as a leading European company in the study of mushrooms used in Traditional Medicine. Below, we summarise her conversation with Forbes.
A company born from personal experience
The origins of Hifas da Terra are closely linked to a personal experience that transformed Catalina Fernández’s understanding of health. This starting point led her to conceive the company not simply as a business focused on product development, but as a research project with a clear purpose: to make a tangible difference to people’s lives.
Since its foundation in 1998, the company has built its work around listening, empathy and knowledge. This philosophy has also meant respecting the pace of scientific research and maintaining a long-term perspective, even when taking a more cautious approach might have appeared less profitable.
Mushrooms as a bridge between tradition and science
When Hifas da Terra began its work, concepts such as biotechnology, nutraceuticals and preventive medicine were still relatively unfamiliar. The medicinal potential of mushrooms, however, was already supported by a long tradition of use and by evidence from different parts of the world.
The company’s contribution has been to study this knowledge using modern scientific methodologies. In this way, Hifas da Terra seeks to act as a bridge between the traditional uses of mushrooms and contemporary research, developing rigorous solutions with the potential to make a meaningful difference to health.
Research before immediate profit
One of the defining features of the company is its commitment to research. Hifas da Terra reinvests more than 60% of its profits in R&D and validates its developments through randomised, double-blind clinical trials.
For Catalina Fernández, this investment is not a strategy designed to differentiate the company from its competitors. It is a responsibility towards science and towards the people who place their trust in its products. This level of scientific scrutiny also supports the continued validation of medicinal mushrooms through data, transparency and methods comparable to those used in other areas of clinical research.
The CEO acknowledges that the greatest resistance initially came from the business world, where it was difficult for others to understand a model that did not prioritise immediate profitability. Over time, this perseverance has become one of Hifas da Terra’s greatest strengths.
Towards more preventive and integrative medicine
Catalina Fernández believes that the future of healthcare will be shaped by prevention, particularly as people live longer and this demographic shift places increasing pressure on healthcare systems.
Within this new paradigm, medicinal mushrooms may help modulate essential functions within the body, particularly those associated with the immune system. The aim is not to replace conventional medicine, but to complement it and broaden the range of tools available to support health and improve quality of life.
This holistic vision guides Hifas da Terra’s research in areas including oncology, immunology, mental health and women’s health. Its approach begins with the understanding that the body functions as an interconnected whole, influenced by inflammation, immunity, emotional balance and the surrounding environment.
A global project with Galician roots
Although the company collaborates internationally with universities and research centres across Europe, Asia and the United States, Galicia remains an essential part of its identity.
Its connection with nature, respect for natural cycles and values such as patience, rigour and tenacity are deeply embedded in the company’s culture. For Catalina Fernández, international expansion does not mean relinquishing this essence. Instead, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate that a particular way of working can create value anywhere in the world.
Leading with integrity
As a woman at the helm of a science-led biotech company, Catalina Fernández has also had to overcome barriers to credibility in traditionally male-dominated environments. In response, she chose to build her own leadership model, grounded in knowledge, integrity and consistency.
Her career demonstrates that it is possible to combine science, business and purpose without sacrificing rigour in pursuit of immediate results. At Hifas da Terra, research does not play a secondary role: it is the foundation of a project that seeks to transform knowledge about medicinal mushrooms into meaningful solutions for the future of health.
This vision has earned the CEO of Hifas da Terra a place among Spain’s Most Influential Women 2025:
“Born to a Galician father and an American scientist, Catalina has transformed mushrooms into a cutting-edge scientific tool. From Galicia, she leads a biotech company that collaborates with universities around the world and exports natural products for medical use to Europe and Asia, with the United States soon to follow. Her goal is to demonstrate that the medicine of the future will be preventive and natural.”