US Government-Sponsored Research
 
 

Duckweed Research from NASA NASA research on duckweeds for use in advanced life support systems for human exploration and development of space.  Such systems will be required for missions to the planets.
National Institutes of Health NIH supports research on duckweeds as a model system to understand gene regulation, biosynthesis of essential nutrients, photobiology, and more.
National Science Foundation NSF sponsors fundamental research in areas of biology not supported by NIH.
USDA Research with Duckweeds USDA employs duckweeds as model systems for basic plant research and in studies of alternative treatment systems for animal waste.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA reports that duckweeds are very promising for their potential to detoxify pesticide residues in the environment.
United States Geological Survey Biological Resources Division (BRD) supports work on waste treatment, wetlands, and global environmental change.

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Companies:  Putting Duckweeds to Work

• Biolex, Inc., Pittsboro, NC - Pharmaceutical proteins.  "Biolex is focused on developing the next generation of patented, recombinant protein production technologies in a plant based system.  The foundation of Biolex technology is its patented Lemna System™. This system couples the natural characteristics of the green plant, Lemna, with advanced genetic engineering and protein recovery methods to create a recombinant protein production platform."
  

On July 28, 2005 Biolex announced it has has purchased LemnaGene S.A., a privately-held, French start-up biotechnology company researching potential applications of Lemna and Spirodela to produce recombinant proteins.
[ Read more about Biolex technology. ]

• Bio-Tech Waste Management, Armidale, NSW, Australia "BTWM provides a unique, low-cost solution to the wastewater treatment problems of many local communities and rural industries. The BTWM system uses duckweed, a small floating aquatic plant, to remove nitrogen, phosphorus and excess mineral nutrients from sewage effluent and other  forms of wastewater." Check this:  "...the protein yield of a hectare of duckweed is worth in the order of [AUD$] $12,000 per annum."

• GreenGold Corporation

  This company began operations in North Carolina in 1998 to commercialize its patented Aquameal System for treatment of agricultural wastewater.  A system located in Hookerton, North Carolina is expected to be up and running in July 2005.   The Aquameal System is a significant departure from earlier commercial designs and has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  Optimized for continuous growth and harvest of duckweed biomass, the system is reported to effectively strip nutrients from wastewater.  An additional claimed benefit is that it avoids accumulation of unwanted algae. Photo:  Aquameal plant in Hookerton, NC.

  
  
• DuckWeed.com.au, Australia, Wastewater Treatment Consultants.

Duckweed in an early peak growth phase (approx 57% increase of mass per day) under optimum conditions on a Domestic Waste Water Secondary pond in the Great Southern Region approx 100 km north of Albany, Western Australia.	An actual visual comparison of Domestic waste effluent water, with photos taken before and after using Duckweed as the cleansing medium.

• LemnaTec GmbH, Würselen, Germany.  LemnaTec develops systems for automated analysis of standard duckweed toxicity bioassays.  These bioassays are commonly used in safety evaluations of environmental chemicals and industrial wastes.

• Lemna  Technologies, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

• "A Lemna Duckweed System is an effective biological process used to enhance lagoon-based wastewater treatment facilities."

• Lemna Technologies works in North America in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment and offers design, technology and equipment supply and technical support, including installation  assistance and operator training.  Lemna Technologies has developed a number of innovative proprietary wastewater treatment technologies."

• "Lemna International works around the world in all kinds of infrastructure projects, from hospitals  to hotels, from potable water treatment and supply to power plants, from wastewater collection and  treatment to roads and manufacturing facilities. Lemna International offers a full range of project development, design and implementation services, including project financing."

• Patents:  [ Water Treatment System ] [ Harvesting Duckweed ] 

• Phytotoxicity Testing using Lemna is performed by many companies, both for their own use and for registration of products with regulatory agencies.  A number of companies perform these tests for clients on a contract basis. Note: If your company provides such tests for clients, please send me contact information and I will add it to my list.

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Revised:  March 21, 2006