Foodie Pundit

The Pond Scum That Could Save Your Chicken Sandwich

Spiking chicken prices are linked to volatile soybean costs. New research in animal science suggests duckweed, or pond scum, is a sustainable poultry feed solut

By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Agriculture Supply

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Key points

  • The price you pay for chicken is directly linked to the fluctuating cost of soybean, the main ingredient in poultry feed.
  • Scientists are championing duckweed, a tiny, fast-growing aquatic plant, as a high-protein, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to soy.
  • Growing duckweed can be part of a 'circular economy' that cleans wastewater and reduces the poultry industry's environmental impact.
  • Major hurdles in processing, drying, and storage must be overcome before duckweed can be used at a large scale to replace soybean meal in poultry feed.

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