Trend Fungal biology becoming a strategic frontier for science, health and biosecurity

Summary

The report says fungi play a structural role in ecosystems and microbiomes through interaction networks that shape biogeochemical, agricultural and health processes, yet their functions remain poorly characterised, limiting the ability to anticipate risks and use their potential. Advances in genetics, genomics and biotechnology are making this historic knowledge gap tractable, bringing fungal biology to a turning point. Fungi have thus become a strategic field for science, health and biosecurity, with uses in biofuels, new preventive and therapeutic compounds, and enzymes and functional ingredients. Metagenomics, CRISPR-Cas and advanced imaging, combined within a One Health approach, are feeding into new vaccines and antifungal classes. In Spain, CSIC, the Carlos III Health Institute and several universities are contributing in fungal diversity, genome characterisation and biotechnology. The report argues that consolidating the field as a priority requires infrastructure such as biobanks and integration with data science and AI.