Duckweed Becomes Officially Approved as a Food Product Within the EU
Duckweed, a sustainably cultivated plant also known as water lentils, has been officially approved for consumption within the EU by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Water lentils are widely consumed in some Asian countries, but have not yet become a food staple in the West. However, this may be about to change, thanks in large part to the work of Ingrid van der Meer of Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. Van der Meer, a senior researcher and head of the Bioscience department at Wageningen Plant Research, first became interested in water lentils ten years ago. She was struck by the sustainability of their production; the plants can produce over six times as much protein per hectare as soy and each one divides …
