What Is the Importance of Duckweed?

Duckweeds are various types of tiny green plants that float on water. These prolific plants grow on every continent except Antarctica and are sometimes referred to as pond scum.

• Duckweed is sometimes called pond scum.

Fish and Fowl Food

• Duckweed provides food for fish, ducks and other waterfowl.

Cattle and Pig Feed

• According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, because duckweeds have a lot nutrition, they have been used for cattle and pig feed in Africa, India and southeast Asia.

Cleaning Sewage

• According to the Rutgers School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, duckweed absorbs phosphate and nitrogen, two common pollutants in farm runoff and municipal waste water.

Controlling Mosquitoes

• Duckweed reduces the growth of mosquito larvae, which may decrease the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and malaria.

Future Potential

• Researchers at the Waksman Institute for Microbiology are looking at ways to use duckweed to deal with energy issues. This research includes fermenting duckweed to convert it into ethanol; finding a way to use duckweed as a food product that humans could eat; and looking at ways for farmers to use duckweed, including treatment of waste water, feed for livestock and biofuel for farm equipment.