Wolffia globosa as an alternative sustainable feed ingredient in aquaculture: Nutritional value and feeding potential

The growth of aquaculture is increasing rapidly, so the demand for sustainable and cost- effective feed ingredients is needed to replace conventional protein sources like fish meal and soybean meal. Price of feed, limited availability, and environmental concerns related with these traditional feed resources have encouraging the researchers to explore the alternative feed ingredients. Wolffia globosa, which is commonly known as water meal, is a small floating aquatic plant which is known for its high nutritional value and ecofriendly characteristic that has emerged as a promising candidate. It contains substantial levels of essential amino acids, protein (30-45% dry weight), omega-3 fatty acids, bioactive compound and vitamins which supports fish growth, immunity and feed efficiency. Studies identify that Wolffia globosa can be effective for omnivorous and herbivorous fish species like carp and tilapia diets because of its high digestibility and favorable nutrient profile. In an addition it’s also provide to environmental sustainability by absorbing high amount of nutrients and integrating well with bio floc and recirculatory aquaculture systems. Despites these challenges such as high moisture content, difficulties in storage, and antinutritional factors, Wolffia globosa possesses significant potential as a sustainable feed ingredient for future aquaculture development and resource-efficient fish production.