[dr_dshiv]

290 million years ago, Agaricomycetes fungi evolved the ability to breakdown lignin. That is the only time any species evolved this ability.

And most rot is actually around the lignin. Amazing material.

[kroil]

thanks, great fungi question thread! It's true fungi can digest lignin. Based on our experience and tests done on our roads by the Norwegian Road Authority, our roads have very long durability, most of the time longer than expected from normal roads, so it seems that fungi hasn't been a problem on our roads so far. The lignin is mixed in and stored underground (spread in the 10 inches layer) and some of it will degrade over time and become part of the soil environment. We will need to test other binder formulas more extensively in warmer areas with more fungi, and create a portfolio of binders suitable for all environments :)

We are working working with some awesome scientists at https://www.nmbu.no/en and we will dig deeper into global fungi tactics together with them

[hinkley]

That's for sure not going to work in rainforest environments, temperate (the PNW) or tropical, though it might work in drier or hotter climates.