Small Scale Production and Marketing of Spirulina
by Urs Heierli with support and contribution from Denis von der Weid
Spirulina has five key assets in combating malnutrition :
- It is cheap : to feed a child in India costs between one and two Rupees a day ( US$ 6 to 12 per year ). Many other feeding solutions are more costly and less sustainable.
- It is effective : one gram per day is enough to correct severe malnutrition in a child in a few weeks. New studies suggest that Spirulina not only improves the physical development of the child but also cognitive performance.
- Spirulina helps people affected by HIV/AIDS to feel better in their daily life and gain weight.
- It is a relatively simple process and requires a low investment of only US$ 500 per tank (18 m2) producing 150grams per day and the technology is fully mastered.
- It provides income: Spirulina cultivation is ideal work for rural women, as a labour-intensive and caring job.
- It is a local business : Spirulina production can be organised as a decentralised rural industry and can involve local people. They can produce, process and sell Spirulina as a business and generate rural income. It is thus a sustainable long-term solution.
Hardcopies are available(free) from SDC, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, E-mail: e-i@deza.admin.ch