Mushroom cultivation to bolster global food security

The latest edition of the World Food Security and Nutrition Status Report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) reveals that there are currently approximately 735 million people worldwide facing hunger, surpassing the 613 million in 2019.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people globally at serious risk of food insecurity has increased from 135 million in 53 countries before the pandemic to 345 million in 79 countries by 2023. As many as 783 million people are now threatened by long-term hunger.

Is there a solution to this problem?

Recently, a research article from the University of Stirling in Scotland was published on the World Economic Forum website. The team suggests the solution is "cultivating mushrooms." They believe that mushrooms can effectively mitigate global food shortages and health issues.

On one hand, mushrooms occupy a nutritional niche in the food world, lower than meat and fish but higher than staple foods and vegetables. On the other hand, mushrooms do not compete for land, nutrients, or farming seasons, effectively avoiding land-related conflicts.

In fact, experts and industry insiders in many countries are optimistic about the prospects of mushroom cultivation. For instance, the African Union Commission is closely monitoring this. At the International Cooperation Forum for the 20th anniversary of mushroom cultivation aid held in 2021, officials from the African Union Commission highly praised the significance of mushroom cultivation.

Mushroom cultivation is a high-tech method originating from China, essentially using grass to grow mushrooms. According to data, over 100 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific have introduced this technology. Li Yu, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Jilin Agricultural University, shares a similar view.

As an expert in fungal science and industrialization research, Li believes that current agriculture is mainly two-dimensional, combining cultivation and animal husbandry. Moreover, agricultural residues such as straw and rice bran, as well as animal manure from poultry and livestock, can be transformed into natural fertilizers through fungi, maintaining soil fertility and establishing true circular agriculture.

Therefore, cultivating mushrooms seems to be a viable option. Instead of focusing solely on increasing yield, future solutions to food security issues might involve introducing new varieties.

Source: Economic Daily; trans-editing by Wang Yunya