Mycelium Composites for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries: The Case for Africa

Abstract

The socio‐economic struggles in Africa are partly attributed to the low productivity of the agricultural sector. The Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa (SDGC/A) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDBG) both agree that the continent needs sustainable interventions to boost agricultural productivity, employment, and income. In this regard, mycelium composite production can present one potential solution. The added value to agricultural waste used to produce mycelium composites can generate additional revenue for farmers, serving as an incentive to increase agricultural productivity. Furthermore, the establishment of mycelium composite start‐ups can increase employment and income, especially for women and the youth. Mycelium composites can also aid in mitigating environmental and health challenges caused by some of the current waste management practices in Africa. This review offers valuable insights into the potential use of mycelium composites as a sustainable alternative for Africa. It explores the potential use of locally accessible resources, the potential applications for the composites in Africa, and the potential challenges that may arise with this technology. It further assesses the potential contribution of this technology to sustainable development in Africa in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN).

Sustainable Innovation: Fabrication and Characterization of Mycelium-Based Green Composites for Modern Interior Materials Using Agro-Industrial Wastes and Different Species of Fungi

“…These findings align with the theory of earlier studies on MBC production, indicating that the tensile strength of MBCs is influenced by various factors associated with substrate type, mycelium binder network structure, and the pressing process [ 30 , 41 , 44 , 67 ]. Generally, the particle size and structure of each substrate material can impact the porosity and overall structure of MBCs, thereby influencing tensile strength and other mechanical properties [ 79 ].…”

“…The pressing action caused differences in the mechanics between the fungal mycelium and substrate, which improved the MBCs elasticity and strength [ 24 , 30 ]. Additionally, prior research suggested that density plays a role, with higher density often correlating with increased bending strength, although there may be trade-offs with other properties like weight and porosity [ 44 , 67 ].…”

“…Furthermore, the application of pressure during production was identified as a contributing factor that effectively enhanced the compressive strength of MBCs [ 16 ]. Despite these variations, the obtained MBCs demonstrated compression strength levels akin to various materials commonly utilized in contemporary interior design applications, such as synthetic foams, natural materials, and paper-based materials [ 16 , 44 , 67 ]. This positions them as promising alternatives within this field.…”

“…To unlock the full potential of MBCs, challenges such as standardizing production processes, ensuring consistency, and achieving material performance and durability standards must be addressed. Balancing degradation and strength are key, along with overcoming cost-effective production challenges and scaling up manufacturing [ 16 , 35 , 67 , 125 , 126 ]. At the same time, building awareness among consumers and industries about the benefits of mycelium-based interior materials is crucial for market adoption.…”

Potential environmental impact of mycelium composites on African communities

“…For Ghana, this model assumes that the MCB production facility is located near the Crop Research Institute of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) in the Ejura-Sekyedumase district (Ashanti region), one of the major agricultural hubs of the country 19 . This location provides both an abundant biomass reserve as well as scientific research support, which, as suggested in our previous review 10 , can be valuable for the establishment and expansion of the MC technology in Africa.…”