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Duckweed: The Minimalist with
Maximum Output

If lettuce is the well-established workhorse of edible
biologics, duckweed (Lemna and Wolffia species) is the
sleek, next-gen platforms, small, simple, and stunningly
productive.

It may be the smallest flowering plant on Earth, but
duckweed is redefining what it means to grow high-yield
protein at speed, at scale, and with minimal inputs.

Floating on the surface of water, duckweed replicates with
a ferocity and efficiency unmatched by terrestrial crops. It’s
not just fast—it’s efficient, both in how it grows and how
it’s engineered. And its compact form factor makes it
ideally suited for urban, modular, and pharmaceutical-
grade vertical farming.

In a world where biologics must be produced closer to
patients, with less infrastructure and more immune-aware
design, duckweed is emerging as one of the most
promising green bioreactors of the future.

High Protein Content: A Dense Therapeutic Engine

Duckweed can reach protein concentrations of up to 40–
45% of its dry biomass—putting it on par with soybeans
and other traditional high-protein crops, but with a fraction
of the growth time and environmental input.

This makes duckweed a powerful host for expressing
therapeutic proteins such as:

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