Food Security: Fungal Future, How can mushrooms shape a sustainable world?

A brief guide on the newfound utility of mushrooms in tackling the climate, pollution and biodiversity crisis

Not just white chestnuts at the supermarket, not just psychedelic drugs, and definitely not the bringer of the apocalypse, mushrooms are a profoundly important component of our ecological system, and arguably the key to a sustainable future.

In summary, mushrooms are not a plants or animals- they are fungi. This is a recent science, the ‘fungi kingdom’ was named in 1969, ironic considering that it consists of the oldest and largest organisms to possibly exist on Earth! Fungi are decomposers, seeping into organic matter and breaking it down, redistributing nutrients in the air and soil. Nuances in this are still being studied, there is a long way to go with understanding fungi.

Mushrooms are not just what you see above ground. They are the reproductive structure of its true vegetative state: a vast, intricate, mycelium network in the soil- pearly white threads as dense and interconnected as a human brain. In today’s context, we seem to be wading through a post-covid world riddled in climate-concern. Almost feeling like an attempt to ‘re-ground’ ourselves, there has been a burgeoning scientific, social, and aesthetic ‘Mushroom Renaissance’, recognising the significance and beauty of fungi in every way of life. Alongside this, new research is uncovering numerous ways in how fungi can assist in making society more sustainable, its potentials summarised here.

Myco-remediation

Some fungi have evolved to break down very resistant, dangerous compounds, such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and radioactive waste. Oyster mushrooms were utilised to clean up dangerous ash toxins in rivers produced by a forest fire in California in 2017. It has also been recently uncovered that certain fungi can break down plastic into biomass, even in anaerobic conditions!

Sustainable eating

Mushrooms are the perfect meat replacement and can be grown yourself! They vary in taste, texture, and look, share earthy flavours, and are rich in vitamin B12 and D. Compared to meat and soy, fungi is more sustainable, as they require very little water and grow quickly. To start, embrace Quorn and its mycoproteins, or try replacing chicken with oyster mushroom!

Myco-materials

Mycelium has been grown to form sustainable products such as leather, foam, fabric, bricks, boards containers. This is all new and still a work in progress!

Rewilding

There has been increased awareness about the importance of fungi in rewilding projects, recently argued by David Satori (a UK MSc mycologist). Fungi are vital in ecological systems, they support soil stability, soil fertility which enriches plant growth, ecosystem regulation and carbon sequestration. Fungi should be acknowledged and assimilated into all rewilding initiatives. Additionally, the presence of some fungi can ‘indicate’ unique landscapes and help shape future rewilding plans. The presence of globally rare waxcaps mark the presence of UK undisturbed grasslands, already important ecosystems, requiring no afforestation if subjected to rewilding.

Carbon sinks

Fungi support carbon sequestration in the soil, effectively converting carbon dioxide into carbohydrates for the soil. This makes fungi critically important, making soil the second largest carbon sink after oceans! Fungi can therefore help offset emissions, however this has not been fully researched.

Want to learn more? Here’s some resources that can teach you more about the mushroom renaissance:

Fantastic Fungi — Documentary (2019)

The famous Netflix documentary is a perfect departure point for a beginner. It scientifically summarises the importane of fungi in shaping our world, past and present. Gorgeous visuals too.

‘No you shouldn’t be afraid of Fungi’ — Time (2023)

This recent article is a great short read, summarising our evolving relationships with fungi in the anthropocene. Opposing the ‘Last Of Us’ fears, it encourages the global embrace of fungi summarising how it could shape our way of living for the better!

Entangled life by Merlin Sheldrake (2020)

‘Entangled Life’ is the must-read fungi book for all. Sheldrake is an incredible scientific communicator, making the biological mechanisms and societal applications of fungi easy to absorb.

In search of mycotopia by doug bierend (2021)

A personal favourite. This journey of a book focuses on myco-revolutionary figures around the world and their radical work in science, cultivation and medicine, shifting societal constructs.

Plantlife waxcap watch- volunteer!

Plantlife is a UK plant conservation charity. Their citizen science initiative is in need of recordings of waxcap fungi- common nationally, globally rare and in need of conservation.

The mycocultural revolution by Peter McCoy (2022)

A radical book encouraging independent connections with fungi- instructing on identification, self-cultivation, foraging, or crafts, this is book is a solid introduction for the deeply proactive ones.

The future is fungi by Michael Lim and Yun Shu (2022)

This dense book is, in my eyes, the Mushroom Renaissance manifesto. All-encompassing and lucsciously illustrated. This book explores every practicality of fungi in every temporarility — nothing a small paragraph can discuss. Look it up online!

S.P.U.N (2021)

S.P.U.N is a global mycogeography research initiative @spun.earth. It is currently mapping mycorrhizal fungi globally to uncover which ‘underground ecosystems’ need protection.

Fungi Foundation (2012)

The FF @ffungi.org is a global research group incentivising the exploration, documentation and preservation of the world’s fungi. They promote education and public policy intervention.

Fat Fox Mushrooms- grow your own!

The Fat Fox Urban Mushroom Farm in London @ www.fatfoxmushrooms.com are a great independent business, offering fungi growing tools, growkits, and courses!

About the author

Wrote by Maud, one of our Climate Action Bristol volunteers 🌳

Maud’s contribution on how mushrooms can shape a sustainable world was in honour of Sustainability month 2023!

If you want to learn more about sustainability, go follow @bristolsustainability on Instagram and join our Climate Action Bristol project!