By: Manmeet Makkar
A bit of an odd thing to write my first blog post about BUT today let me cover a bit about the unusual Lactarius indigo, also known as blue milkcap mushrooms. Being an unusual shade of bright blue, researchers have been actively studying its role in the ecosystem. Research has found them to live in a mutual partnership with tree species around them, which may be unusual for fungi such as these.
As the cultivation and usage of these species have become more prominent, researchers have begun to focus more on their dietary intake. The mushroom species have been found to be high in fibre and fatty acids as well as protein. Specifically, it is being considered as a replacement for other protein sources which have a much larger ecological footprint, such as pasture-fed beef. Specifically, as the agricultural demand continues to increase, governments make the decision to convert forests into agricultural lands, which further supports clear-cutting, deforestation, etc. Not only does this reduce major diverse habitats for a variety of species, it also creates problems for those that may not inhabit those areas. For example, the removal of forests reduces soil erosion, protects against flooding, etc. However, with the reduction of forests, homes to thousands of species continue to be destroyed.
Understanding that the mushrooms, which produce a larger amount of protein than beef grown within the same area, it’s now important to also understand the importance of decreasing that ecological footprint through food. Researchers have specifically come up with a detailed plan which follows the process of cultivating these mushroom species, inoculating trees with them and planting the trees to further promote the symbiotic relationship of trees and this mushroom species.
It seems like a very understandable plan so, what is stopping the government from attempting it?
https://phys.org/news/2022-01-humble-mushroom-forests-climate.html
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 
