An account of research, which explored new biological and socioeconomic perspectives on bivalve mollusc culture to increase production and to improve the livelihood of farmers. It presents a review of the pathways in which aquatic macrophytes may be involved in the food production process, directly as human food, as livestock fodder, as fertilizer (mulch and manure, ash, green manure, compost, biogas slurry), and as food for aquatic herbivores, such as fish, turtles, rodents and manatees.