Towards sustainable food security: Exploring the potential of duckweed (Lemnaceae) in diversifying food systems

With the global population rising, concerns over food security, especially regarding protein, are increasing. Sustainable alternative protein sources are being explored to address the increasing global protein demand driven by population growth while also mitigating the environmental impacts of animal farming. Lemnaceae (a family of species more commonly known as duckweed), a currently underutilised and cost-effective crop, presents a promising solution for balancing protein consumption with environmental sustainability. At present, the broader consumption of duckweed faces significant limitations, including issues related to availability, consumer awareness, and end-user applications. This review assesses the potential of duckweed as a sustainable resource for diversifying the food system and ensuring food security. It evaluates different aspects of duckweed, including cultivation/harvesting practice, nutritional value, protein quality and application. The paper underscores duckweed’s transformative potential in food systems, particularly through its diverse applications. Additionally, it addresses the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating duckweed and its derivatives into existing food systems. The multifaceted role of duckweed in various sectors, coupled with its fast growth rate and nutrient-rich biomass, positions it as a promising raw material for novel protein sources and high-value products. With a balanced amino acid profile for nutrient enrichment and pharmacological potentials, including antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, duckweed holds great promise as a novel ingredient for food reformulations and new product development. Nevertheless, successfully navigating the hurdles of consumer acceptance and delineating the functional compatibility of duckweed and its derivatives with other food ingredients are essential prerequisites for fully realising duckweed's potential within the food system. • Duckweed can serve as a sustainable plant-based protein source. • Duckweed cultivation can promote efficient resource strategies with zero food waste • Duckweed can be used in food formulation for human consumption. • Perception, accessibility, and regulation limit the use of duckweed as food. • Awareness campaigns and end-user applications can enhance duckweed’s consumer acceptance