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Eight reasons why mushrooms are critical to the planet

Often underestimated, mushrooms are actually essential to our planet. Let's discover eight reasons why mushrooms are among the most valuable allies of nature and human life.

Fungi, long neglected and ignored by scholars, are extraordinary organisms that play essential roles in terrestrial ecosystems.

They are plants' best friends, they heal us, they are responsible for many delicious foods, and they produce sustainable biomaterials. We owe life as we know it to them and could not exist without them.

Let's find out eight reasons why fungi are critical for the planet:

Decomposition and recycling - Fungi play an essential role in theecological balance thanks to their ability to decompose organic matter and return nutrients to the environment. Decomposing fungi, called saprophytes or saprotrophs, degrade dead organic material, particularly lignin and cellulose, making available nutrients that promote soil fertility and new plant growth. Without them, the Earth would be awash in decaying remains, hindering the cycle of life.
Supporting plant life - Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with about 90% of terrestrial plants, improving the uptake of water and essential nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen and helping them defend against disease, drought and other environmental stresses. In return, plants provide the fungus with sugars and other substances, since fungi do not perform chlorophyll photosynthesis. Without them, many plants could not grow or survive.
Food production - Mushrooms play a key role in the production of some essential foods and beverages. I yeasts are single-celled fungi that have had an enormous impact on food and beverage production for centuries. the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for example, is responsible for the fermentation of bread, beer, wine, and other distilled beverages due to its ability to transform sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol.
They help herbivores digest food - Some fungi are found in the intestines of sheep, cattle, goats and other wild herbivores. These types of fungi help herbivores in digestion, for without them it would be difficult to break down fiber-rich foods.
They store carbon - Fungi play a key role in the carbon cycle. In fact, they release it into the soil and the atmosphere through the decomposition of organic matter, thus affecting the global climate. I mycorrhizal fungi, in particular, help store carbon in the soil, making the soil more stable and fertile and protecting it from erosion.
Mushrooms cure us - How many times have you been prescribed an antibiotic? And how many of those times was the antibiotic penicillin? It has probably happened more than once. Penicillin is obtained from a fungus of the genus Penicillium and its discovery revolutionized modern medicine. Many fungi produce compounds with potent therapeutic properties. In addition to being used to create antibiotics, fungi are the basis of immunosuppressive and anticancer drugs.
It has also been widely demonstrated that mushrooms Contain bioactive molecules beneficial to human and animal health, useful in the prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and viral infections. These compounds have already been used for years in nutraceuticals and mycotherapy.
Fungi create sustainable materials - Did you know that mycelium, the unseen part of fungi that grows in a substrate, can be made into packaging, shoes, bags or building blocks? Fungal cells secrete enzymes that decompose the surrounding substrate, absorbing its nutrients and forming tough structures similar to rubber, cork or leather - Thanks to the malleability of mycelium and technological advances, the myco-materials offer innovative, durable and fully compostable solutions, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic.
Environmental remediation - Some fungi have the unique ability to decompose toxic substances, contributing to the remediation of soils and industrial and urban wastewater. Their use not only ensures full respect for the environment and ecosystems, but also saves energy and reduces costs compared to classical remediation methods.