Date
19 Oct 2021
Listen to experts discuss the role and potential of mushrooms in improving dietary diversity in a new podcast.
Researchers at CIFOR-ICRAF have been studying the global significance of edible mushroom species, of which there are thousands.
Edible mushrooms are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein. And they’re tasty. This makes them an attractive proposition for people shifting to greater intake of plants in their diets. Not only does such a shift increase health it also helps reduce pressure from livestock on the environment, particularly, forests, by reducing the expansion of grazing land.
Mushrooms are ready to step up. With only 12 crops and 14 animal species providing 98 percent of the world’s dietary needs, the world of mushrooms is waiting to be explored and added to menus. Globally, though, mushrooms are not exactly shy. Mushrooms are already a booming business, valued at more than USD 50 billion in 2019.
Nevertheless , mushrooms are not fully embraced by diners owing to the fear of poisoning. Categorization and clear promotion of edible species can be a big step toward a stress-free dinner table.
For World Food Day 2021, CIFOR-ICRAF scientist Huili Li and Asanka Bandara from the Kunming Institute of Botany in China discussed mushrooms and their cultivation as an integral part of sustainable livelihoods and diets in rural communities in China, India and Myanmar.
Listen in and learn what’s nice and what’s not to have on your plate!
World Agroforestry (ICRAF) is a centre of scientific and development excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Knowledge produced by ICRAF enables governments, development agencies and farmers to utilize the power of trees to make farming and livelihoods more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable at multiple scales. ICRAF is one of the 15 members of the CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future. We thank all donors who support research in development through their contributions to the CGIAR Fund.