Urban Myciculture in Bafoussam (Cameroon): A Discreet yet Emerging Socio‑Ecological System for Urban Sustainability
This article examines urban myciculture in Bafoussam (Cameroon) as an emerging socio‑ecological system, situated within a context of rapid urbanization, infrastructural fragility, and deficient organic waste management. The study draws on Ostrom’s socio‑ecological systems framework, Holling’s adapti...
Enregistré dans:
| Dans: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/vertigo, |
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| Auteurs principaux: | , |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Langue: | Anglais |
| Publié: |
VertigO
2026
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| Sujets: | |
| Accès en ligne: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Résumé: | This article examines urban myciculture in Bafoussam (Cameroon) as an emerging socio‑ecological system, situated within a context of rapid urbanization, infrastructural fragility, and deficient organic waste management. The study draws on Ostrom’s socio‑ecological systems framework, Holling’s adaptive cycle, and Geels’ multi‑level perspective to interpret myciculture as a niche innovation born from an institutional void and evolving through progressive reorganization in response to recurrent disturbances (water and electricity outages, supply disruptions, product perishability). These analytical lenses also shed light on the conditions required for scaling up in other cities, including institutional recognition, adequate infrastructure, and local production of mycelium. Based on a four‑month immersion within the Common Initiative Group (GIC) Champignon combining repeated in‑depth interviews with the founder and the production manager as well as systematic observations, the analysis shows how this agricultural practice transforms urban constraints into productive resources. The results indicate that the valorization of biodegradable waste constitutes the ecological core of the system, articulated around a circular‑economy logic in which substrates, compost, and ecological charcoal form a closed loop of reuse. Myciculture generates employment, disseminates technical knowledge, and offers an accessible activity for diverse social groups. The model relies on self‑financing, continuous reinvestment, and product diversification. However, the sector remains vulnerable due to dependence on imported mycelium, high logistical costs, energy and climatic constraints, and limited institutional recognition. Myciculture thus appears as a discreet yet promising lever for a sustainable, inclusive, and circular urban transition in cities of the Global South. |
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