Circular Economy and Sustainable Agriculture (SA): Mushroom Cultivation as a Driver of the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The innovative circular economy (CE) framework offers a new way to rethink agri-food systems to sustainably reduce waste and regenerate ecosystems. Mushroom production sits at a peculiar nexus of the principles of CE and sustainable agriculture by converting low-value agro-industrial by-products and wastes into food, bioactive compounds, and nutritionally valuable mushrooms and a substrate that can be returned to the soil or further upcycled into other value chains. The present review reviews evidence on the role of mushrooms in building circular economies, underscoring their contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This review also explores the following pathways: (i) resource use efficiencies by substrate valorization; ii) soil and environmental services via spent mushroom substrate; iii) nutrition and health through proteins, fibres, and bioactive; iv) socio-economic opportunities through inclusion in value chains; and v) climate-smart functions by reducing emissions through residue burning and improving carbon cycling. All are supportive of the conclusion that potential alignment with SDGs is high among such, with reference to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 9 (Industry and Innovation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Filling these gaps requires standard Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) management strategies, cold-chain logistics, and policies that facilitate integration into circular bio-economies. It results in mushroom growing is a driver of the CE and SDGs, but could be multi-sectorally invested in innovations and institutional frameworks in support of its huge potential.