Kew’s groundbreaking State of the World’s Plants and Fungi report found that 90% of the world’s fungi are yet to be discovered. The fungi we do know is proving to be an invaluable resource for innovations in climate science and medicine.
But unless we act now, the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss could mean that still-undiscovered fungi are lost before we unlock their potentially world-changing solutions.
Kew is a charity, and we rely on donations to continue our cutting-edge global biodiversity and conservation research into the power of plants and fungi. With your support we can uncover the secrets of this vast fungal kingdom for the benefit of us and our planet.
Support tomorrow’s leaders in plants and fungi
Kew’s fungal experts are based in over 100 countries. Your support is helping to ensure that in-country researchers and local communities have the infrastructure and knowledge needed to safeguard nature in some of the most biodiverse and threatened countries on Earth.
Your donation will help the next generation of leading plant and fungal scientists to flourish, like the inspirational Dr Anna Ralaiveloarisoa.
Madagascar's only mycologist
Watch Dr Anna Ralaiveloarisoa demonstrate her vital work identifying species of fungi at the Kew Madagascar Conservation Centre.
Support our work with fungi
As climate change threatens the existence of many plants and fungi it’s a race against time to uncover this incredible fungal kingdom. Donate today and help us unlock the extraordinary ways fungi could save us and our world.
Unlocking the power of fungi for our future
With our partners, we’ve already discovered that some strains of fungi can digest plastics, offering humanity hope when it comes to tackling plastic pollution.
The fungal kingdom is the source of some of the most important medicines ever discovered, from statins to powerful chemotherapy drugs. In a recent paper, we revealed with our partners the new innovations that are driving a revolution in fungal drug discovery.
Plus, our pioneering research project at Wakehurst, Nature Unlocked, is exploring the value of UK biodiversity, including by unearthing the incredible secrets of fungi under the soil. We’re researching the key role fungi play in storing carbon and supporting underground ecosystems, and our findings are helping shape UK-wide practices in the fight to protect British biodiversity.
These are just a few examples of the groundbreaking work of Kew colleagues and partners – and they are made possible with the support of generous donors like you.
Donate today to help us power a revolution in fungal science
As a charity, Kew relies on the generous donations of supporters to help pioneer our conservation work.
By donating today, you could help us uncover the power of plants and fungi and unlock the extraordinary ways they could help save the world.
Anna works on the Today’s Flora for Tomorrow project. Her position and research are supported by a private donor, with additional grants including from the Bentham-Moxon Trust and the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).