Edible fungus Fusarium venenatum: advances, challenges, and engineering strategies for future food production

By 2050, the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion, necessitating a 70 % increase in traditional agricultural output to meet growing demands. However, critical constraints are emerging as arable land and water resources approach their sustainable utilization thresholds. In this context, ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable food production has become a pivotal issue intertwined with national economy and people's livelihood. Microbial manufacturing based on microbial chassis and synthetic biology technology represents a transformative approach to future food production. Notably, the edible filamentous fungus Fusarium venenatum serves as an ideal chassis for next-generation future food biomanufacturing. However, there has been a lack of systematic reviews specifically focusing on the development of synthetic biology tools, chassis engineering, and chassis applications for this strain. This paper systematically summarizes the latest significant progress, from the perspectives mentioned above, in the use of F. venenatum for future food biomanufacturing. Furthermore, it discusses potential development directions and challenges, and proposes some available strategies, intending to provide ideas and guidance for the further development of F. venenatum-based future food production systems.