World's most expensive mushroom threatened by climate change

The prolonged summer due to climate change makes Alba white truffles more expensive than gold bars, difficult to grow and become more scarce.

Truffles, also known as white truffles, are commonly found in the town of Alba, Piedmont, Italy. They have a strong aroma and a strange sweet taste, sometimes with a hint of garlic.

Truffle is known as the "king of mushrooms" because of its high nutritional value and unmistakable aroma. Each dish only needs a slice of mushroom to bring out its excellent flavor. Because of its rarity and unique flavor, the price of this mushroom is more expensive than lobster, gold bars and any other type of mushroom.

White truffles are the most expensive mushrooms in the world. (Photo: Global News).

With supply limited and demand soaring, white truffles fetched as much as $4,790 per kilogram at the Alba International White Truffle Fair, which ended on December 8 this year. Two twin white truffles sharing a common root were the star of the show, weighing 905 grams and selling for $150,000 to a Hong Kong billionaire.

Despite their high prices, white truffles are in decline . In the past three decades, the area devoted to white truffles in Italy has shrunk by 30%, making way for more profitable vineyards and hazelnut forests. But the main threat to white truffles is climate change . Global warming, deforestation and sudden temperature changes are all contributing to the decline of the fungus's natural habitat.

Unlike other common mushrooms , white truffles grow underground, living in symbiosis with hardwood trees by attaching themselves to their roots. To survive, truffles need a cold and humid environment. However, in early November, the temperature in the area was 20 degrees Celsius. With the long summer weather, production is decreasing.

Carlo Marenda founded the Save the Truffles association in 2015 with natural scientist Edmondo Bonelli . 'If we want to stop truffles from disappearing, we have to protect forests, stop polluting water sources and plant new trees,' they say. Ten years later, thanks to donations and the support of many wine growers, the association has planted more than 700 trees in the Langhe hills, including birches, oaks and lindens.

The harvest season, which runs from October to late January, is getting shorter. With colder weather and snow coming later, the truffles' aroma isn't at 100 percent and doesn't last as long, Marenda said. Heavy rains like the last few weeks can also be detrimental. 'If there's too little water, the truffles won't grow. If there's too much water, they'll rot,' he said.

Whether or not truffles are on the brink of extinction, according to Mario Aprile, president of the Piedmont Truffle Hunters Association, white truffles cannot be farmed like black truffles. Without trees, the truffles cannot survive, so planting trees is needed to restore biodiversity.