Mycoremediation: the under-utilised art of fungi clean-ups Mycoremediation: the under-utilised art of fungi clean-ups 26 Feb 2021 History is littered with examples of fungi helping to digest the detritus and contaminants left by humans. New challenges could reinvigorate the field
‘Mycoremediation’ is a dizzying term. Put simply, it means using fungi to clean up pollution. Fungi are nature’s most vigorous agents for decomposition. For millions of years, they have evolved to exploit the detritus of other species, recycling nutrients through the ecosystem. The only organisms on Earth that decompose wood, their ability to extend through soil in filamentous mycelia, excreting digestive enzymes, allows them to adaptively decompose tough materials.