Duckweed

This solution was shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM , 14 May 2021

Print date: 24 February 2025 19:35

Description of the innovative solution

Alternative protein Animal feed Aquaculture Water availability Animal-sourced food Diet diversity Healthy diet Animal husbandry

Environmental and social impacts of animal-derived proteins are high. As the global population grows, there is an increasing need for quality protein that can be produced at a fast pace and at low environmental cost. This solution proposes to cultivate and commercialize duckweed for feed and human food. Duckweed are freshwater plants (Lemna and Wolffia) that grow extremely fast, with low nutrient requirements. They have a high nutritional profile especially regarding protein content and vitamin B12 content. Duckweed grows easily outdoors or indoors. In outdoor settings, duckweed has been proven efficient for eutrophic water purification. They are easy to harvest and can also grow on wastewater. Duckweed could be cultivated for water purification or for the production of high quantity/quality food/feed. Recirculating systems can be used when cultivated indoors. In Northern Thailand (khai-nam), Burma and Laos, Wolffia globosa has been harvested as food for many generations. However, it is still considered as "low-standard" food and hasn't been adopted by other countries. Duckweed resembles in taste to watercress or spinach.

Primary users

Subsistence farmers
Small & medium commercial farmers
Large & industrial farmers
Livestock farmers
Urban farmers

Dietary impact

Duckweed protein has a better array of essential amino acids than most vegetable proteins and more closely resembles animal protein. Harvested duckweed plants contain up to 40% protein on a dry weight. Duckweed also contains high micronutrient levels, however this depends on the quality of the water duckweed is grown in.

Planetary impact

Duckweed is a suitable aquatic plant for wastewater treatment. Duckweed has a high rate of nutrients uptake, and can tolerate high wastewater nutrients levels. Depending on its growing environment, duckweed has the ability to reproduce rapidly, it can double in just 16 to 24 hours. Duckweed can be grown in closed-loop system to reduce water usage. 100% of the plant is harvested can be consumed.The use of duckweed for food and feed could thus alleviate the pressure that the production of traditional protein rich foods have on the environment and substantially increase the food availiblity.

Equity impact

Growing duckweed do not need high start-up costs and can be set up with litmited costs to serve for wastewater treatment or production of feed. To ensure quality food, several food saftey parameters need to be ensured and require a higher set-up cost. Growing duckweed could thus be a new aquatic farming system for communities around the world and can be developed from small-scale to large-scale.

Main concerns

Research is needed to establish the optimal nutrient conditions, light intensity and temperature to promote the fastest growth of duckweed. Furthermore, research in food processing is also needed to increase the palatability of duckweed-based food products. Food safety needs to be ensured. Duckweed used for wastewater treatment shouldn’t be consumed due the possiblity of heavy metals accumulation.

Supply chain segment

Agricultural inputs and primary production practices

Maturity level

Prototype

Criteria

Food quality Food affordability Climate mitigation Climate adaptation Water use Reducing pollution

SDG target

SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Context

Urban Peri-urban Rural Marine/Coastal

Examples and additional resources

Real-world examples

See this solution in action in different contexts and settings around the world

Lentein

Business information

LENTEIN® is a unique high-protein food product containing the nutritional qualities of water lentils.

United States

lentein.com/.../

Shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM

Additional resources

Learn more about this solution through studies, articles, business cases, and other information

Duckweed - a potential high-protein feed resource for domestic animals and fish

Scientific paper

Paper investigating the potential use of duckweed as animal feed. Proteinaceous feed resources are generally in short supply, and in addition are usually the most costly components of the diets of most animals in developing countries. Duckweed presents a protein source that is of great potential for feeding to domestic animals and particularly fish.

lrrd.org/lrrd7/1/3...d7/1/3.htm

Shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM

Rutgers Duckweed Stock Cooperative Website

Other

Website for the Rutgers Duckweed Stock Cooperative, with background on the plant and additional information, links to other sites, etc..

ruduckweed.org/.../

Shared by IFSS Research Team

Duckweed acceptability of Dutch consumers