Harebrained duckweed scheme

THE scientists of the Wellcome Trust at Euston believe that as they have seen ducks eating duckweed it could be the new super-food and want to propagate it on the Regents Canal!

Even though they are not sure that it is really edible for humans, the scientists are looking into it as a new super-food, as it contains a high level of protein, that they believe will save land space as it grows on water, Roger Fox tells us.

High protein content

It is understood that it is actually eaten in parts of Asia having a very high protein content, where hotter weather produces much more, but not known if it is the same variety that profligates on the canals in hot weather, seen as a carpet of green.

Neither is it known if the protein can be accessed from what is considered an invasive plant, but the scientists were led to believe by Canal & River Trust that during one spell of hot weather it removed 70 tonnes of it from the Regents Canal in seven days, that has the people of the Wellcome Trust exited.

Boating stopped

As duckweed only grows in hot weather, its harvest is extremely restricted in this country, and as many boaters will know it is a menace to boating, and what seems to have been overlooked, is after all the primary purpose of the Regents Canal. So does this mean that should the scientists decide on propagating duckweed on the waterway it will result in all boating being stopped whilst being grown?