Did you know that fungi are amazing – the mushroom superheroes of planet Earth? They break down complex organic compounds, improve soil health, and even have medicinal properties.
In London, efforts are underway to utilize the full potential of these little powerful organisms and promote environmental health and well-being.
But in what way do fungi practically help the environment?
Fungi decompose organic material, acting as nature’s recyclers. They play a vital role in by breaking down pollutants like oil, pesticides, and industrial waste. Fungi also form symbiotic relationships with plants, promoting plant growth and soil health, contributing to ecological balance and supporting environmental sustainability.
Salima Chebbah, founder of Elysian Roots and winner of N.L 2002’s Environment Award, has made promoting the benefits of mushroom her mission – primarily in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
“If people understand the food properties, then they may be curious of the growing process and the environmental effect, so I started teaching mushrooms cultivations in simple workshops. When we talk about environmental properties, mushrooms are obviously the fruity body, what we eat is like an apple to a tree but underneath there is an invisible organism called mycelium and that itself help soil thrive”
Salima Chebbah
Infographic by PDV
“When I started Elysian Roots, it was about sharing information, discovering what mushrooms could do for people in terms of medical properties and, on that journey, I realised that many of us didn’t really know the potential of them,” she said.
Did you know that oyster mushrooms are carnivorous?! 👀
They consume a species of tiny worms (known as nematodes) and bacteria – as well as rotting wood.
The benefits of mushrooms are a combination of medical, nutritional, and environmental. By promoting our health, we can also make a positive impact on the environment.
The Kew Garden website, for example, explains how fungi have been used in medicine for years, such as Penicillin, discovered from a blue-green mould that prevented the growth of infectious bacteria.
“If people understand the food properties, then they may be curious of the growing process and the environmental effect, so I started teaching mushrooms cultivations in simple workshops,” said Chebbah.
“When we talk about environmental properties, mushrooms are obviously the fruity body, what we eat is like an apple to a tree but underneath there is an invisible organism called mycelium and that itself help soil thrive.”
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