3 Fun(gi) Futures
3 Mushroom-inspired futures... Imagined by me and real as can be.
Amy Daroukakis nudged me to share a 333 piece at a Futures Friends’ London breakfast in July 2024: 3 signals in 3 slides in 3 minutes. Below is a redacted & edited version of what I shared during the breakfast, amongst 6 other incredible speakers sharing what peaks their curiosity.
One of the aspects that I love and respect about FF is not sharing the presentation afterwards: encouraging people to attend, talk and absorb f2f. Do yourself a favour and sign up for the next event in your city.
Image description: Jess presents the ‘Myco-Resilience’ future to the crowd at Futures Friends breakfast in London. 📸 Amy Daroukakis
Naturally my signals look through a mushroom-shaped lens. Researching myco-culture digs up a web of tendrils that never stops exploring, so choosing (only 3) was hard. I decided to focus on areas that:
Are impacting society and the environment in big and meaningful ways, and
Are examples of brilliant innovation from the African continent, and
Popped up during my world mushroom tour, and
Are addressing the UN’s SDGs, and
Vibe with me!
Are these futures made up… or real?
Futures and foresight is a game of systematic exploration, prediction, and planning for potential future scenarios.
My ex-colleague Susie Hogarth (now Head of Cultural Strategy at Firefish and a powerhouse girl-crush) taught me that many future scenarios are POSSIBLE (i.e. can actually happen, given our current understanding of the world, not limited by probability or practicality). Some futures are PLAUSIBLE (i.e. could realistically happen based on what we know, trends, and understanding of how systems operate). Lastly, POTENTIAL futures are not only plausible but also desirable or undesirable and often used in strategic planning and visioning to work towards whichever outcomes are preferred.
In my myco-topian, romantic and possibly naive ideals of the future, all of these scenarios are POTENTIAL and DESIRABLE.
Do you agree? Let me know in the comments.
Fungi Future 1: MYCO-HABITATION
Image description: Presentation slide describing Myco-habitation. Under the header ‘Myco-Habitation’, the description reads: MycoHabitation is a future of living ecosystems that address food, housing, and environmental issues simultaneously, creating sustainable, resilient communities built with mycelium technology. Think homes that are not just a building, but an ecosystem, constructed by mycelium bricks and insulation. Homes that feed us and the planet,
#SDG9 - Industry Innovation and Infrastructure
#SDG11 - Sustainable Communities
#SDG13 - Climate Action
Go do some digging and decide whether you feel that Myco-Habitation is a potential, desirable future:
MycoTile in Kenya* | Mycohab in Namibia
*I interviewed the brains and CEO behind MycoTile, Mtamu Kililo, on my trip to Kenya last October. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I had severe malaria during our chat. A day later I was out of it and haven’t been in the right place to edit and publish since. Mtamu’s interview was mind-blowing and his insights deserved to be shared. This will be published soon.
Fungi Future 2: MYCO-SUSTENANCE
Image description: Presentation slide describing Myco-Sustenance. Under the header, the description reads: MycoSustenance is a future where human diets are nutritionally supplemented by myco-proteins. Natural biomimicry with mycelium technologies product next-generation meat and dairy alternatives which are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. Think burgers that contribute to a circular and regenerative economy.
#SDG2 - Zero hunger
#SDG3 - Good health and wellbeing
#SDG12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Go do some digging and decide whether you feel that Myco-Sustenance is a potential, desirable future:
Mycosure | ProVeg Incubator report: Five years, 100 Startups the Future of Food | Fast-growing fungal proteins could slash agricultural emissions ten-fold - Anthropocene Magazine
“We have surpassed the initial wave of product innovation and consumer acceptance. The next wave will spearhead the transformation and expansion of the industry.”
- Albrecht Wolfmeyer, ProVeg Incubator Director
Fungi Future 3: MYCO-RESILIENCE
Image description: Presentation slide describing Myco-Resilience. Under the heading, the description reads: MycoResilience is a future where those with economic challenges are living prosperous, resilient lifestyles. Innovative, resource-efficient mushroom cultivation in refugee settlements is supporting livelihoods, mental wellbeing, education and community resilience, by converting agricultural waste into sustainable, nutritious food and income. Think prosperous, self-sufficient and eco-friendly living for displaced peoples.
#SDG1 - No poverty
#SDG2 - Zero hunger
#SDG3 Good health and wellbeing
#SDG8 - Decent work and economic growth
Go do some digging and decide whether you feel that Myco-Resilience is a potential, desirable future:
Hodari Foundation | Mushrooms, Refugees and Building Resilience
So that’s it. 3 Fungi Futures, in 3 Slides, in 3 Minutes.
Yours in spores.
