A small aquatic plant, duckweed, could revolutionize the food of tomorrow

29.07.2024 - 11:19 / theunconventionalgardener.com / guest

Header image: The tiny floating duckweed plant is uniquely suited to meet the nutritional needs of astronauts. Dr. Jared J. Stewart, CC BY-ND

Tristan Muller, Université Laval and Laurent Bazinet, Université Laval

The idea of eating aquatic plants might sound unappetizing at first.

However, in certain regions of South East Asia, farm animals and humans have been eating a small plant called duckweed for a very long time.

As researchers in food science, we propose shedding some light on the fascinating world of these little-known plants with a high protein content. We believe they have the potential to revolutionize our diet!

Duckweeds are aquatic plants that inhabit the surface of the world’s freshwater.

There are several species of duckweed, distinguishable mainly by the size of their leaves. These plants are remarkably simple: a tiny leaf floating on the water with a tiny root that is not even anchored to the ground.

At first glance, duckweed may seem innocuous and even a little too common to be of any interest.

But beneath its humble appearance, this plant has the potential to become a veritable protein factory.

In fact, when grown in optimal conditions, duckweed can contain up to 45 per cent protein, making it an excellent source of this essential nutrient.

Studies have shown that one hectare of duckweed can produce between 10 and 18 tonnes of protein per year. In comparison, soy beans, the most widely grown legume in the world, produce just 0.6 to 1.2 tonnes.

What’s more, these plants have the ability to multiply very quickly. The quantity of duckweed in a pond can actually double in less than 48 hours.

This Olympic level speed of growth raises a crucial question: how can we use duckweed protein for human consumption?

The idea of