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Biotechnological Applications of Mushrooms under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Crucial Aspects and Prospects from Farm to Pharmacy

Summary

Mushrooms are emerging as a powerful solution for solving global food, water, and energy challenges. Scientists are using biotechnology to produce tiny healing particles from mushrooms, clean up polluted soil and water, create renewable energy, and extract beneficial compounds for medicine and health. This review shows how integrated mushroom farming can help achieve sustainable development goals while reducing waste and supporting human wellbeing.

Background

Mushrooms have been recognized as important food sources with high nutritional value and medicinal attributes for centuries. The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is critical for global sustainability, yet resources are increasingly scarce. Recent biotechnological advances have expanded mushroom applications beyond food production to include bioenergy, nanoparticle synthesis, and environmental remediation.

Objective

This review examines biotechnological applications of mushrooms and their relationship to global water, energy, and food security. It synthesizes current knowledge on mushroom farming, nanoparticle production, bioremediation, bioactive compound extraction, and bioenergy generation within the WEF nexus framework.

Results

Mushrooms demonstrate significant potential across multiple biotechnological applications: production of eco-friendly nanoparticles (Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, ZnO-NPs, etc.) for food and medical uses; bioremediation of polluted soil and water through enzymatic degradation; conversion of spent mushroom substrate into biofuels (biogas, bioethanol, bio-oil); and extraction of diverse bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Applications address multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Conclusion

Mushrooms represent a viable biotechnological solution for addressing global challenges in water, energy, and food security. Integrated mushroom cultivation systems and valorization of agricultural waste through myco-biorefinery approaches offer sustainable pathways for circular bioeconomy development, though further research is needed on nanoparticle applications and edibility criteria.
  • Published in:Foods,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 37509764, PMC10379137
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