Is Mushroom Growing Sustainable?
@valeofparasidemushrooms
If you guessed "yes," then you are correct!
Mushrooms are not just densely nutritious, but also a highly sustainable food and biomaterial source. According to Green Matters, mushrooms are the most sustainable vegetable (even though they're really fungi). Here’s how they stack up in the agriculture world.
Less Water Consumption
On average, growing 1 pound of mushrooms only requires 1.8 gallons of water. Compare that to 1 avocado, which requires 60 gallons of water, or 1 pound of corn, which requires 127 gallons!
(Source: WaterFootprint.org)
Fewer Carbon Emissions
A serving of mushrooms equates to just 0.08 kg of CO2 emissions. Only lentils have a lower per serving CO2 emission level.
(Source: AmericanMushroom.org)
Less Energy Consumption
On average, growing 1 lb of mushrooms requires just 1 kWH of energy, which is roughly equal to the amount of energy used to brew a pot of coffee.
(Source: AmericanMushroom.org)
Efficient Land Use
In one year, a million pounds of mushrooms can be grown on a single acre of land.
(Source: MushroomCouncil.org)
Raw Material Upcycling
Mushrooms are grown on upcycled and composted materials (like manure, sawdust, and straw) which are leftovers from other parts of the agriculture process.
(Source: EcoMushrooms.org)
Lower Waste Generation
Following harvest, the substrate that produced the mushrooms is a great byproduct that has multiple uses on crops, in landscaping, and in reclamation projects.
(Source: AmericanMushroom.org)
The use of plastics in mushroom cultivation
It’s no secret that the mushroom industry uses a fair amount of single-use plastic. Most of this use is concentrated in large-scale indoor cultivation where plastic bags are used to house mushroom fruiting substrate. When alternative or outdoor techniques are employed, plastic use can be minimal. Growers can use reusable containers or inoculate outdoor garden beds and logs as an alternative to indoor bag cultivation.
North Spore creates educational resources to help make mushroom growing accessible and help both new and experienced mushroom growers expand their fungal horizons beyond plastic bag cultivation. North Spore is also committed to investing research and development funds and personnel towards discovering solutions to plastic use in the mushroom industry.