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Researchers are expanding efforts to use fungi to help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Most work focuses on boosting carbon storage in soils and forests, where fungi already move large amounts of plant carbon underground.
New experiments are also testing fungal-based building materials that could store carbon in long-lived products.
Scientists caution that measuring durable carbon storage remains a key challenge before large-scale claims can be confirmed.

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Scientists are developing and testing fungal approaches that could help capture carbon from the atmosphere, mainly by strengthening the natural partnership between plants and fungi that moves carbon into soils. The work spans ecology, agriculture, forestry, and materials science, and aims to turn fungal biology into a measurable and durable climate benefit.

Fungi do not pull carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air the way plants do. But many fungi are tightly linked to plant photosynthesis. Plants take in CO₂, convert it into sugars, and then pass a share of that carbon below ground to fungal partners.

That basic pathway is now drawing more attention from researchers looking for carbon removal methods that are low-energy and scalable. The goal is not to replace emissions cuts. It is to improve how much carbon is stored, and how long it stays stored, in soils, forests, and long-lived materials.

## A large underground carbon flow
A major focus is mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots and extend a network of fine filaments into the soil. In exchange for plant carbon, they help plants access nutrients and water.

A 2023 synthesis paper in *Current Biology* estimated that global plant communities allocate about 13.12 gigatons of CO₂-equivalent per year to mycorrhizal fungal mycelium. The authors said this is roughly comparable to about 36% of annual fossil fuel CO₂ emissions at the time of their comparison.

Researchers stress an important point: a large carbon flow into fungal networks does not automatically mean long-term carbon storage. Some of that carbon cycles back to the atmosphere quickly through respiration and decomposition. The open scientific question is what fraction becomes stable soil carbon over years to decades, and under what conditions.

## Turning fungal activity into stable soil carbon
Recent studies are exploring how fungi can influence the formation and stability of soil organic carbon.

One line of work looks at how mycorrhizal pathways shape microbial communities and soil structure, which can affect whether carbon becomes protected in mineral-associated forms that last longer.

Another line of work explores “non-mycorrhizal” root-associated fungi. A 2024 paper in *Biogeosciences* tested multiple fungal isolates and reported that some increased total soil carbon, while many improved carbon stability by shifting carbon into more resistant pools.

These findings are pushing research toward practical questions: which fungal species or communities matter most, how soil type changes results, and how long any added carbon remains in place.

## Field trials, restoration, and monitoring challenges
Outside the lab, scientists and forest managers are testing whether restoring fungal communities can improve tree growth and ecosystem health. Faster growth can mean more carbon stored in wood and soils, but only if it is measured carefully and does not create new emissions elsewhere.

A central issue is measurement, reporting, and verification. Soil carbon is notoriously variable across short distances and can change with weather, management practices, and disturbance. Researchers working on nature-based and soil-based carbon removal increasingly emphasize robust monitoring methods, including long-term field measurements.

## Fungi in carbon-storing materials
A smaller, but growing, area is fungal-based materials. Mycelium can bind plant-based feedstocks into lightweight composites. Researchers have examined whether these products can act as a “carbon sink” when used in durable applications.

A 2022 study in *ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering* described a mycelium biocomposite as a CO₂-sink building material with low embodied energy, using life-cycle analysis approaches to compare production impacts.

Newer materials research is also exploring mineralized mycelium composites. A 2026 paper in *ACS Omega* examined processing challenges involved in calcium carbonate mineralization of mycelium composites, a technique that aims to improve material properties and potentially lock carbon into mineral form. This work is early-stage and is focused on engineering performance and manufacturability, alongside environmental evaluation.

## What scientists say needs to happen next
Across these approaches, researchers tend to agree on three near-term priorities.

First, identify which fungal communities and management practices reliably increase durable carbon storage, not just short-term carbon movement.

Second, improve real-world monitoring so that soil and ecosystem carbon gains can be separated from natural variability.

Third, evaluate trade-offs, including impacts on biodiversity, nutrient cycles, and potential unintended emissions.

Fungi already play a major role in the global carbon cycle. The next step is to determine where, and how, fungal biology can be guided in ways that produce measurable and lasting climate benefits.

AI Perspective

Fungi research highlights how much climate-relevant activity happens below ground and outside everyday view. The biggest opportunity may be improving the durability and measurement of carbon stored in soils and long-lived products, rather than chasing single headline numbers. As this field grows, clear monitoring standards will matter as much as biological innovation.