In Search of Flavor

Episode 13: The Fascinating World of Fungi with Guiliana Furci of Fundacion Fungi

Episode Summary

We’re so excited to welcome world-renowned, Chile-based fungi expert Giuliana Furci on the show! Giuliana joins Liz to talk about all things fungi. From the misrepresentation fungi has received throughout history, to its diverse uses and properties, Giuliana will teach you more about the incredible world of fungi than you ever learned about in school--which goes way beyond the culinary applications most of us know. Fungi truly are the basis of all life on our planet. Giuliana is the director of the Fungi Foundation and one of the most notable promoters of the Fungi Kingdom in Chile. Her dedication to fungi has helped make Chile the first country in the world to include the Fungi Kingdom in its General Environmental Law, which is essential for the study, protection and recognition of a species. Join us for this mind-opening episode!

Episode Notes

In this episode we talk about: 

• How Giuliana was “chosen” by the world of fungi 
• The “3F’s” & basics of the Fungi Kingdom & the role fungi plays in our world 
• The development of Chilean mycology and the uniqueness of Chilean fungi. The lonely road that was studying Chilean fungi at first and why Chile is classified as a “mycro-phobic” country despite being a fungi hotspot! 
• How co-evolution with fungi have led to fungi with medicinal properties 
• The process of looking for fungi for particular purposes - medicinal, pesticides, -- and how their co-evolution with animals have led to groundbreaking discoveries 
• The Fungi Foundation 
• Giuliana’s collaboration with culinary masterminds to express local fungi ecosystems in food
• How to start foraging mushrooms on your own
• Fungi and a future COVID vaccine 

Resources

Field Guides to Chilean Fungi

Fundacion Fungi

Fundacion Fungi Donation Page

Fantastic Fungi Documentary 

@giulifungi 

@fungi_foundation