**Abstract**

Many lakes and rivers all over the globe are experiencing environmental, human health, and socio-economic development issues due to the spread of invasive water hyacinth (WH) weed. WH is regarded as one of the world's most destructive weeds and is nearly impossible to control and eliminate due to its rapid expansion and ability to double its coverage area in 13 days or fewer. However, most people in developing countries appear to be hoping for a miraculous cure; there are none and never will be. In this regard, this chapter aims to give an insight to raise awareness, research its biology and challenges, management options, and potential prospects on integrated control-valorization and its policy implications. WH biomass has demonstrated potential as a biorefinery feedstock for bioenergy and biofertilizer production, heavy metal phytoremediation, handicraft and furniture making, animal feed, and other applications. As a result, large-scale integrated control and valorization is an economically viable strategy for preventing further infestation through incentivizing WH control: providing a sustainable environment, increasing energy mix, increasing fertilizer mix, increasing food security, reducing GHG emissions, boosting socioeconomic development, and creating new green jobs for local and riparian communities. Therefore, it is a leap forward in addressing global sustainable development goals (SDGs) through the water-energy-food-ecosystem (WEFE) nexus.

**Keywords:** water hyacinth, integrated control, valorization, economic feasibility, WEFE nexus, policy implications
