Welcome to our latest Newsletter! |
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Funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation Programme |
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From Principal Investigator Professor Marcel Jansen |
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Duckweed ... on pizza!? |
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Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are truly remarkable plants that match a record growth rate with very desirable properties, including a high content of good quality protein. As scientists, we have been working with these plants for several decades and made many fascinating discoveries. However, one of my more memorable discoveries was when I found 'punnets' of duckweed in a supermarket in Israel in the 1990s. |
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Israeli scientists and companies have long been at the forefront of duckweed applications and have developed a method to grow large amounts of clean, nutritious Lemna gibba. This particular duckweed species has particularly large air pockets in its fronds (leaves), giving it a nice, bubbly sensation in the mouth. I used to sprinkle the plants as a healthy addition onto pizza, or alternatively used them as a ready-cut salad. If you're interested in all the different ways duckweed can be used in the kitchen, there's a fascinating little booklet with delicious duckweed recipes by Hans Derksen, Cees Gauw and Yvonne Derksen. Quiche, spring rolls, curry - it's all there! Left: Prof Marcel Jansen samples duckweed biscuits
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Just a disclaimer, and a safety warning: Don’t collect wild grown duckweed unless you know that it is clean, and hasn’t absorbed pollutants present in the environment.
So, if duckweed is so wonderful, why does your local supermarket not stock it? The answer is that it depends on where you are from. Supermarkets in South East Asia, Israel and the USA do indeed stock duckweed for human consumption. However, in the EU the Novel Food Regulation constitutes a hurdle, applying to any food not produced or used before 1997 in EU member countries. However, multiple applications to recognise duckweed as a novel food in the EU are currently at an advanced stage, so keep an eye on your supermarket shelves for the arrival of a nutritious, protein-rich, sustainable salad! |
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To coincide with World Water Day on March 22nd we launched a video with a behind the scenes look at the water remediation systems we have been developing over the course of the project. Watch it here.
Read full press release here.
Below: Video production in the Cooperage Building at UCC |
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Above, left and below: Project Steering Committee member Dr. SM Ashekuzzaman speaks with researchers on a recent visit to the indoor systems at UCC |
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The UCC team have recently been testing the capacity of three 500-litre re-circulatory systems to
support duckweed growth and water remediation. The advanced replicated
testing aims to address existing knowledge gaps, and includes exploring different LED lighting regimes to promote growth and reduce energy costs, and the assessment of robotic duckweed harvesting technology. The results of testing within previous smaller scale (125-litre) systems have been published in a leading industry journal. The peer reviewed paper is available here. These data show, for the first time, how both flow rates and medium depths can affect duckweed removal of excess nutrients, as well as corresponding plant growth rates.
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To date, other research has relied on static or extremely low-flow systems. What's more, the majority of existing studies have only extracted data from very small-scale systems (less than 15-litres) and have never demonstrated how altered flow velocities impact duckweed performance. |
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This lack of empirical data was an obstacle to the adoption of duckweed
technologies for wastewater phytoremediation to mitigate environmental
pollution and valorise waste by many industries. Our results will considerably
advance the development and optimisation of industrial large-scale systems - both of indoor
(multi-layered, stacked) and outdoor (pond, lagoon, canal) models.
A parallel
indoor growth system is currently being constructed at Aberystwyth, using experience
gained by the UCC team. This will further increase our overall ability to
produce a fit-for-purpose indoor cultivation system.
Below: Large scale systems, harvested duckweed, and exploration of different LED lighting regimes |
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Outdoors, researchers have been testing the 80-litre systems currently set up in the polytunnel at Aberystwyth University Botany Gardens. Weekly measurements of duckweed biomass are taken, and environmental conditions such as water and air temperature are monitored to assess how these parameters affect duckweed growth in outside conditions.
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Above: Duckweed growing in 80-litre systems in the polytunnel
This will help us to greater predict the operation of systems in a real life farm setting. The plan is to repeat these trial throughout the summer to assess whether findings seen on a small scale in the laboratory are transferrable to a larger scale.
Below: Duckweed growth on different dilutes of cattle slurry |
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We've also recently started larger scale trials using intermediate bulk
containers (IBCs) in the glasshouses at Aberystwyth, with complimentary
experiments conducted in UCC. This includes taking weekly measurements of duckweed yield, and collecting water samples to measure nutrient removal. Findings will feed into the final design of the IBC system,
which will be used for upscaling lab trials, as
well as for demonstration purposes to the public.
Below: IBCs in the glasshouses at Aberystwyth |
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In parallel, UCC researchers are using three lab-scale models (35-litres) to assess duckweed biomass production and nutrient uptake rates across different wastewater concentrations. These experiments take place in a semi-outdoor setting - a glasshouse under natural light conditions. This work is then upscaled to larger IBC tanks to test various volumes (ranging from 250 to 750-litres), led by Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Neil Coughlan, and underpinned by lab-based assessments led by Research Assistant Rachel O’Mahoney. These monitor the compatibility of different duckweed species and strains (i.e. ecotypes) across different farm-derived wastewaters, such as dairy parlour yard-washings, and filtered swine effluents. Results so far show us that some strains of duckweed provide enhanced growth and nutrient removal, compared to others - a useful insight that will feed into overall system design.
Below: Project Steering Committee member Dr. SM Ashekuzzaman examining the outdoor systems at UCC with researchers |
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Above: UCC President Prof John O'Halloran (L) and Brainwaves' Prof Marcel Jansen (R) in studio for popular RTÉ Radio 1 wildlife and nature show, Mooney Goes Wild |
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Our own Professor Marcel Jansen took to the airwaves alongside President of UCC Professor John Halloran to talk about groundbreaking work on climate change, biodiversity loss and the circular economy being done at UCC, with a spotlight on the innovative phytoremediation work of the Brainwaves project.
Listen back here from 43 minutes in.
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Our Women & Girls in Science 2022 |
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Above: Clockwise from top left: Niamh Daly, Anna Power, Aisling O'Flynn, Rachel O'Mahoney and Katie Sheehan all contribute to the Brainwaves project
February 11th marked the seventh annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day that recognises and promotes the contributions of women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
To mark their contributions, five of our research team shared their own stories as women in STEM. Check it out here. Read more about how the Brainwaves project contributes to this year's IDWGS theme here.
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Above and below: Brainwaves and other EU-funded projects greet members of the public during this year's Europe Day showcase at Wexford County Council offices
To mark Europe Day 2022, Brainwaves joined a public showcase of EU-funded projects held at Wexford County Council offices on May 9th. Nearly a dozen projects across the south and east regions of Ireland attended on the day, highlighting the extent of the exciting EU-funded work happening across a diverse array of sectors including tourism, technology and climate change.
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Across the Irish Sea in Wales, the research team enjoyed an outdoor picnic with other EU-funded projects at Aberystwyth University.
Below: The Welsh team enjoying a well-earned break in the fresh air - at least the rain held off!
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Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (St David’s Day) |
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Dydd Gŵyl Dewi, celebrated on March 1st, is the feast of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. As a proud Ireland-Wales Programme project, we co-hosted a Welsh-themed coffee morning with fellow Ireland-Wales project Ports, Past and Present.
We gathered together in person, a treat in itself, to share connections and stories over Welsh cakes (a traditional type of sweetbread with raisins) and daffodils, the national flower of Wales. All the while mindful of a phrase attributed to St David: ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd' - or, 'Do the little things in life'.
Read more about Welsh symbols here. |
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Follow our journey on Twitter @BrainwavesEU. DMs are always open if you’d like to get in touch. |
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Project Website |
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Find all your Brainwaves-related information and resources here. |
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By Research Assistant Rachel O'Mahoney
We'd like to leave you with a poem on the theme of interconnectedness
Enjoy - Bain sult as! |
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