Food & Beverage News

Duckweed As A Sustainable Protein Source: Food Security Guide Published

Lotus Ministry Trust has published a new educational guide examining duckweed as an underexplored food source with potential relevance for future nutrition and environmental sustainability. Titled "Duckweed: Is It Food or Weed", the guide explores the aquatic plant’s nutritional profile, historical use, cultivation considerations, and environmental characteristics, placing the plant within broader global discussions about food security and sustainable protein sourcing. Further details are available at https://www.lotus-ministry.org/post/duckweed-is-it-food-or-weed The release of the guide comes at a time of global concern about access to nutritious food. According to the United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, an estimated 638 to 720 million people, or approximately 8.2 percent of the global population, experienced chronic hunger in 2024. The same report found that roughly 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity, while about 2.6 billion people worldwide were unable to afford a healthy diet. These figures highlight the scale of the challenge facing global food systems, particularly in low-income regions where climate pressures and rising food prices continue to exacerbate vulnerability. Within this context, interest in alternative and plant-based protein sources has grown steadily. Duckweed, a small floating aquatic plant from the Lemnaceae family, has drawn attention due to its unusually high protein content, which research suggests can reach up to 45 percent by dry weight. The plant also contains a complete amino acid profile, positioning it as a potentially valuable source of plant-based protein when cultivated and consumed safely. Lotus Ministry Trust’s guide examines how duckweed compares nutritionally with more established crops while acknowledging that further research and responsible practices are essential for broader adoption. The guide also explains that, in parts of Southeast Asia, duckweed has been consumed for centuries, valued for its nutrient density and ease of harvest in aquatic environments where traditional agriculture may be constrained. Aside from the obvious health benefits, the new duckweed guide explores environmental considerations related to cultivating under-used food sources. Climate variability and extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting food production on a global scale, reinforcing the need for crops that can grow efficiently with limited land and water inputs. Lotus Ministry Trust argues that duckweed’s rapid growth rate, minimal space requirements, and capacity to absorb excess nutrients from water make it relevant to discussions around sustainable production systems. When managed properly, duckweed cultivation may also support water filtration and nutrient recycling, while contributing modestly to carbon sequestration through photosynthesis. Learn more at https://www.lotus-ministry.org/post/duckweed-is-it-food-or-weed