Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of organisms known as fungi. The vegetative portions of the fungus, or the "plant" if you will, are the mycelium which grow in soil and on other substrates such as wood or decaying plant matter. They remain unseen or unnoticed by most of us during the course of our daily lives, and yet, these amazing organisms are some of the largest on the planet. They perform multiple functions within both natural and man-made systems and; they may be one of the key components in solving a variety of environmental issues which are plaguing our planet and putting the future of humanity in question.
As mycelium grow they produce enzymes which help to break down organic compounds. By so doing they help to recycle nutrients back into the food web so that they can be taken up by other plants and organisms. Plants and fungi form symbiotic relationships exchanging nutrients and water. Some studies have shown that plants benefit from and are more productive when growing in proximity with certain fungi. Additionally certain fungi help to protect the plants from pathogens that might otherwise attack the plants.
Mycelium can be used as both sponges and filters in various environmental protection and clean up efforts. Researches such as Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running, have investigated some amazing and potentially life changing uses for mushrooms, from the digestion of disposable diapers to soil clean up following oil or chemical spills. Mr Stamets has also demonstrated the use of mycelium in the organic control of certain insects pests.
Mycelium are also being used to replace synthetic compounds in packaging. Companies such as Ecovactive Design are creating a variety of packaging materials and insulation that are environmental, economical, durable and yet compostable. One of the great things about these mushroom based packaging materials is that they can replace styrofoam which is one of the worst culprits in the world of packaging in terms of its negative impacts on human life and the environment.
And lest you think that mushrooms are just the latest space-age panacea, remember that people have been using mushrooms for thousands of years as both food and medicine. Mushrooms contain protein and other valuable nutrients and some mushrooms, such as the turkey tail mushroom, have been used to fight cancer. But even in the food arena, mushrooms have their space-age applications. Knowing the horrific impact the industrial meat processing industry has on our environment and knowing the abysmal conditions of the animals which are processed through this system has driven many people to seek alternatives which will allow them to maintain a level of texture and variety in their diet that they might not otherwise be able to achieve with traditional vegetarian fare. There is an answer. A variety of healthy, economical and really quite tasty meat substitutes are being made from mushrooms and mycelium.
The humble mushroom has become a source of wonder and fascination for me. With all the amazing uses we have found for these simple organisms, one wonders how many more we will discover and what other positive impacts they might have for protecting life on this planet.
