Forest fungi 'can help to slow down climate change'

The results of a new report suggest that mushrooms growing in forests in northern countries can help to slow down the area's climate warming.

Researchers from the University of California have published the report, which discovered that when the soil warms up in these areas, fungi growing in it dries up and produces less carbon dioxide than their wet-soil counterparts.

Scientists were reportedly taken aback by these findings, as warmer soil was believed to produce more carbon dioxide.

The university's Steven Allison, one of the participating researchers, said: "The Earth's natural processes could give us some time to implement responsible policies to counteract warming globally."

In other soil-related news, New Zealand organisation Pipfruit NZ claimed it has developed a new system of producing residue-free food.