Lemna grows on an indoor pond. Growing the plant can use less water and land than traditional crops.
Photo courtesy of PlantibleStartups Turn to Ponds to Find the Next Climate-Fighting Superfood
Whole Foods has labeled duckweed a food trend to watch as startups work on growing a plant that can cut water use and emissions.
A neon green plant the size of a sprinkle and grown in water holds the promise of providing protein for the world’s growing population while using fewer land and water resources. Just don’t call it by its common name: duckweed.
The tiny plant has many aliases, including more enticing ones like water lentils and lemna, and it’s got some momentum: Whole Foods Market Inc. named it one of the top food trends of 2025 while startup Plantible announced it raised a $30 million Series B funding round on Friday. There’s still a long road ahead for water lentils to go mainstream, though, and with one startup already failing, there are concerns the plant may struggle to reach widespread adoption.