One of the winners of the global environmental initiative, Emery exhibits at the Hong Kong Museum of Climate Change and Nest Summit New York

Emery’s work ‘The Future of Fungi: Fungi Our Future’ highlights the little known importance of fungi as we move into a more sustainable future. EMERY: Fungi, among the oldest life forms on Earth, hold immense untapped potential—over 90% of their estimated 3.8 million species remain undiscovered. Mycorrhizal fungi form vast underground networks that sustain plants, protect against disease, and rapidly absorb atmospheric carbon. Fungi already contribute to medicine, producing antibiotics like penicillin and compounds to treat cancer, diabetes, and even plastic pollution. They clean up oil spills, degrade pesticides, and restore radioactive sites. Beyond medicine, fungi act as bio-fertilizers, soil regenerators, and solutions for food insecurity and sustainable materials like vegan leather. Yet, industrial farming and deforestation threaten their habitats and their vital role in ecological balance. Mycology offers a path to a symbiotic future where humans, animals, plants, and fungi coexist in thriving ecosystems. Fungi’s survival—and ours—are deeply interconnected.