Paper short abstract:

Mushrooms could save our planet in the Anthropocene. This paper, by an economic anthropologist working on a Swiss mushroom farm, explores their economic and social dynamics, presenting a novel research approach.

Paper long abstract:

Mushrooms have the potential to play a significant role in saving our planet, a notion that is boldly asserted. In the era of the Anthropocene, our planet faces the looming threat of extinction, and fungi experts like the renowned mycologist Paul Stamets have gained increasing recognition for their belief in mushrooms as saviors. However, our understanding of the social and economic dynamics in which fungi thrive and coexist remains limited. Frequently situated within capitalist contexts, it is crucial to understand the human effort invested in nurturing and cultivating fungi, with the ultimate goal of achieving greater sales profitability.

This paper brings together the experiences and reflections of an economic anthropologist who is presently employed as a harvest helper at a mushroom farm in Switzerland. The paper aims to make three primary contributions: Firstly, from an empirical perspective, it demonstrates how and why fungi are valued and cultivated in Switzerland, a country not typically associated with mushroom production. This provides insights into the economic aspects and scales of the fungal industry. Secondly, from a methodological standpoint, the paper embraces the concept of 'mushrooms as method' by conducting research with mushrooms rather than merely about them. Thirdly, on a theoretical level, the paper bridges discussions surrounding fungi and female care by expanding the concept of care to encompass more-than-human entities.