What is the broader environmental implication linked to cheaper substrate for mycoprotein?

• A. It could increase deforestation.
• B. It could contribute to decreasing deforestation worldwide.
• C. It would not affect deforestation.
• D. It would harm biodiversity.

Answer: (B)

Cheaper substrate makes mycoprotein production more affordable and scalable, which strengthens its role as a substitute for animal protein. Since animal agriculture and the crops grown to feed livestock drive a lot of land clearing, shifting demand toward a fungal protein can lessen the pressure to clear forests. That’s why the broader environmental implication points to a decrease in deforestation worldwide. The other ideas don’t fit because expanding fungal protein use through cheaper substrate is unlikely to increase deforestation, and it wouldn’t be accurate to say there would be no effect or that biodiversity would be harmed when forest preservation typically supports greater biodiversity.