The contribution of fungi to the global economy

International audienceFungi provide ecological and environmental services to humans, as well as health and nutritional benefits, and are vital to numerous industries. Fermented food and beverage products from fungi are circulating in the market, generating billions of USD. However, the highest potential monetary value of fungi is their role in blue carbon trading because of their ability to sequester large amounts of carbon in the soil. There are no conclusive estimates available on the global monetary value of fungi, primarily because there are limited data for extrapolation. This study outlines the contribution of fungi to the global economy and provides a first attempt at quantifying the global monetary value of fungi. Our estimate of USD 54.57 trillion provides a starting point that can be analysed and improved, highlighting the significance of fungi and providing an appreciation of their value. This paper identifies the different economically valuable products and services provided by fungi. By giving a monetary value to all important fungal products, services, and industrial applications underscores their significance in biodiversity and conservation. Furthermore, if the value of fungi is well established, they will be considered in future policies for effective ecosystem management

The amazing potential of fungi: 50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially

International audienceFungi are an understudied, biotechnologically valuable group of organisms. Due to the immense range of habitats thatfungi inhabit, and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi, bacteria, and animals, fungi havedeveloped numerous survival mechanisms. The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application inbiotechnology and industry. Moreover, fungi can be grown with relative ease, making production at scale viable. Thesearch for fungal biodiversity, and the construction of a living fungi collection, both have incredible economic potential inlocating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products. This manuscript reviews fifty ways in whichfungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology. We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and giveexamples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers. We also provide a flow chart that can be used toconvince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products. Fungi haveprovided the world with penicillin, lovastatin, and other globally significant medicines, and they remain an untappedresource with enormous industrial potentia