Why YOU should be eating duckweed too

Duckweed is a highly nutritious, mild-tasting plant you can add to salads, smoothies, and other dishes.

There are dozens of strains around the world, and most have protein levels of 30-40% by dry weight.

It's also easy to grow and harvest.

Professor Eric Lam leads a team at Rutgers University, which has the world's largest collection of duckweed species and their strains.

“Everyone in my lab, as well as visitors, has eaten it,” he says. “You can mix it with cottage cheese on a cracker or you can put it on your ramen noodles to add protein. I've eaten it with hamburgers and sandwiches.”

It's easy to grow duckweed at home, and you can build your own growing set-up, says Professor Lam.

“Our working model is a very simple system with connected trays that rely on gravity for water flow. You skim duckweed from the water, rinse it and put it in your refrigerator, where it can be good for up to three months without preservatives.”

Pictured above: a smoothie made from a blend of pear, cucumber, celery, and duckweed.