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The agri-tech start-up aiming to grow water lentils at scale

Looking to tap the plant-based trend using soy and peas? Some argue these ingredients are old hat and food industry trend watchers are looking to the many alternative proteins aiming to come into commercialization.

Duckweed, or water lentils, is a family of small flowing plants that float on the surface of ponds and lakes, similar to water lilies. The plant has been hailed as the world’s most complete food source because of its high levels and quality of protein, vitamins and minerals. If duckweed is grown under optimal conditions, it can contain up to 40% protein. It has also been claimed to be a potential plant-based source of B12, otherwise only naturally found in meat, milk cheese and eggs.

Then there are its sustainability credentials. Duckweed is one of the smallest, fastest growing plants in the world. It can be cultivated in almost all geographic locations and altitudes on water. Water lentils require no arable land to grow and – thanks to being able to effectively absorb contaminants like nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and carbon dioxide from the air – the plant is said to boast huge climate mitigation potential.

The water lentil “hits every sweet spot​”, said Susan Payne, Chief Operating Officer at Sustainable Planet, a UK-based agri-tech food production company with ambitious plans to grow water lentils on a large scale to supply as a nutritious, sustainable ingredient to the global food industry. It’s an “exceptional​” plant with the potential to solve a host of problems facing today’s food industry from the need to increasing food security and combating climate change from she told FoodNavigator. Sustainable Planet plans to grow water lentils on a large scale, whilst contributing to the regeneration of the earth’s resources and mitigating carbon emissions. The company says its production process allows duckweed to be grown on non-arable land and in saline water, using up to 20 times less water than required for protein isolates such as soy. The start-up aims to dramatically reduce protein imports.

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