July 8, 2011
Spirulina is the most nutritious food on the planet. It is packed with protein, vitamins and minerals in an easily digestible form – which makes it incredibly good for the body. It is a food supplement that can be used by anybody at anytime. Amongst other things it is very good for people infected with the HIV virus, the malnourished, anaemic, diabetic, etc. It is very good for the elderly as it is for children. It has particular benefits for athletes and gym goers
This is a microscopic plant and is grown in a highly controlled aquatic environment that is designed to replicate its natural habitat. In fact East Africa is considered to be the natural home of Spirulina since it exists naturally in many of the Rift Valley alkaline lakes, for example, Lake Nakuru, Elmentaita, Bogoria and Crater Lake. The appearance of the water in these lakes is a deep green, this is from the Spirulina in the water. It is one of two primary foods for the flamingos, so where there are flamingos you are very very likely to find Spirulina.
Spirulina was re-discovered in the early 60’s by some French scientists at Lake Chad. Since then it has become one of the most researched foods of modern time. There are over 400 studies highlighting the vast and varied benefits of this super-food. In West Africa they have been growing Spirulina since the late ‘80s’ – due to it being a more francophone thing. In Burkina Faso the government has funded large Spirulina farms in order to offer high quality nutrition to those living with HIV in the country. In Chad there are several projects funded by the WFP which encourages the cultivation of Spirulina against malnutrition. The US is the largest consumer of Spirulina and over there exist the two of the largest Spirulina farms, one in California and the other in Hawaii.
For two years now Dunga Spirulina has developed the practical technology to grow Spirulina in the most environmentally friendly way. Indeed Spirulina cultivation is considered one of the most green forms of agriculture – requiring far less water and non fertile land to product high quality nutrition. Apart from offering this nutrition, Dunga Spirulina is training farmers on how to grow this food for their own nutrition and for income generation. As traditional forms of agriculture fail due to a warming planet, we see Spirulina as a food with great potential in the region.
What remains currently is awareness of this product. As awareness increases so will the interest in growing this food and in our opinion so will the nutritional status of people in the region. We see a great need to rethink traditional agriculture and develop technologies that can be used in the near future.
Guest posting by Jagpal Sandhu – Spirulina Producer and founder of “Dunga Spirulina”, Kisumu – Kenya
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
July 8, 2011
Tucked away in a little corner of Kisumu overlooking the small bay which is part of and opens up to Lake Victoria, very close to the Kisumu Yacht Club is a man who is producing spirulina. Jagpal Sandhu is the Director and a self made producer of micro-algae spirulina and Dunga is the location in Kisumu where he grows it.
Dunga Spirulina” that is the name of the small enterprise which has the capacity of growing/harvesting up to 5kg a day. The spirulina is grown, harvested, dried, ground and packaged all in the small compound right next to the lake in Dunga – Kisumu. Dunga Spirulina is the first company in the EA region to successfully grow Spirulina sustainably. Jagpal unlike other organizations and NGOs in Kisumu has decided to open his spirulina to a different market than the one of the sick and malnourished. He sells his spirulina in a nicely vacuum sealed package to the higher market as a natural food supplement. As demand grows so too does his production facility. The company is building more ponds and placing in the ponds a motorized paddle wheel to facilitate movement of the algae in the ponds. Thick plastic covers are being placed on the ponds to avoid cross-breeding and contamination of the spirulina. Dunga Spirulina is currently available in;
- Healthy U Stores Countrywide (Kenya),
- Healthy U in Nairobi – Junction, Sarit Centre, Yaya Centre, T-Mall, Westgate, Village Market.
- Healthy U Express Stores inside Nakumatt: Junction, Karen, Ngong Road, Mega, Lifestyle, Village Market, Westgate, Embakasi.
- Healthy U in Kisumu – Nakumatt Nyanza and Mega City.
- Healthy U in Mombasa – Nyali and Likoni.
- Zucchini in Naiorbi – ABC Place, Junction and Village Market,
- Elixir Health in Village Market – on top of the food court.
- Patsons Chemist in Swan Centre, and Maruti Pharmacy in Kisumu
- And will soon be available in other East African countries.
Jagpal decided to start growing his own spirulina after having attended a basic course on spirulina growing and harvesting at IIMSAM Headquarters just outside Kisumu. IIMSAM gave Jagpal the basic knowledge on how to grow spirulina. He used that knowledge to establish his farm and produce spirulina in an open pond system. Dunga Spirulina is highly nutritious and provides you with all the protein, vitamins, minerals and micro nutrients needed by your body on a daily basis. Dunga Spirulina is 100% Pure Spirulina Powder.
Various images taken on-site at Dunga Spirulina
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome – Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 3, 2011
It is a fact that one hectare of land is equivalent to about the size of two full size football fields roughly 10,000m2 or 0.01km2. What does that have to do with Energy you may ask?
The UK is using over 1.6 million hectares of land in Sub-Saharan Africa (Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Tanzania) to produce biofuel; that is the size of 3.2 million football fields or 16,000km2 (the size of Swaziland). If we then consider how much African land is being used by the EU to produce biofuels from agricultural products in Africa the number doubles to 3.2 million acres, or over ¾ the size of The Netherlands. This is due to the fact that the EU has to adhere to a target to produce 10 percent of transport energy from biofuels by 2020.
All this land which could be used to grow agricultural products is being used to grow feedstock for biofuels in countries where the main concern is to bring food to the table of hungry children this does not seem sensible, and is contributing the rise of food prices. Furthermore, the production process can emit from 3 to 6 times more greenhouse gases.
These enterprises are marginally helping development in these countries and are producing little employment for the local communities. The feed stock is grown, harvested, fuel produced and shipped out. It is not sustainable!
Recently Kenya changed its mind on the full implementation of a 50,000 hectare jathropha project near Malindi. The Kenyan franchise of the Italian company “Nuove Iniziative Industriali” has had to turn its full scale jatropha project into a small scale pilot after the Kenyan government considerably reduced the 50,000 hectare site as a consequence of protests by the Kenyan environmental groups.
Growing micro-algae for food does not interfere with land use or the production of food. Whether micro-algae is produced in photo bio-reactors, ponds or basins it will not decrease food production, It could in actual fact contribute to increasing food production if the left over biomass (after oil extraction) can be utilised as fertilizer or animal feed.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Kisumu-Kenya
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
March 24, 2011
Micro algae, in particular the species and strains that are grown in open pond systems are subject to constant contamination. OriginOil, Inc. the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum recently announced Algae Screen(TM).
Algae Screen(TM) is a process that keeps algae healthy and productive by selectively eliminating microscopic predators that contaminate the algae, without the use of chemicals. The technology employs an electromagnetic pulse, similar to what is used to achieve Live Extraction(TM). OriginOil will offer Algae Screen and Live Extraction in one integrated offering for growers.
Algae in particular oil rich algae are targets for preditor invasion (rotifers and other bacteria), these can not only choke off algae growth but they can also reduce the value of the algae crop by metabolizing valuable oil and biomass. Algae Screen says Paul Reep (Senior VP of Technology) will continuously protect the algae from such invaders.
One other benefit is that it integrates fully with Live Extraction (a way to extract algae oil on a continuous basis without sacrificing the cell), due to the fact that it is based on the same technology.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Nairobi-Kenya
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 8, 2010
While the United States and BP are desperately trying to cap the crude oil spurting out from the BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, Canada is preparing to set up its first major algae to oil pilot plant. $5M project (US$4.7 million), have been awarded by the Government of Canada to grow, harvest and produce algal-oil in Nova Scotia.
The new algae project brings Canada in line with other countries that are also investingating the potential of algae, these beign primarily the US, but also counties in Europe like, Spain, Italy and Germany.
The National Research Council (NRC), and the Institute of Marine Sciences are the main actors in the project and they are in a unique position because they are using local species of algae, eliminating the risk to the environment. Sixty-four species have been collected and studied so far, twenty-four of these species have been brought into cultivation and about six have exceptional oil yields.
The pilot plant which should be located in Ketch Harbour Marine Research Station and will produce 50,000 litres as well as producing valuable by-products like nutriceuticals or high protein animal feed.
Some of the companies NRC will collaborate with include
- Ocean Nutrition Canada in Halifax;
- Menova Energy Inc. of Markham, Ontario;
- POS Pilot Plant from Saskatoon;
- and the international consortium Carbon2Algae Solutions (C2A)
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
Picture: Courtesy of Wikipedia
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 6, 2010
AQUATIC BIOFUELS – New Options for Bioenergy
Copies of my Dissertation can be purchased through dissertation.com for $US 17 by clicking either the image on the left or the link above.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
January 18, 2010
An energy company in Lousiana, USA, called “Aquatic Energy” is making progress in the production of algae oil from micro-algae in open pond systems. The company which formerly had less than a hectare, will slowely expand into a 12 hectare demonstration project plant, which will yield about 9500 litres per hectare (approx. 4000 squared metres).
Interestingly enough more than 70% of the CO2 comes from the atmosphere and the remaining 30% is being generated from the natural gas burned in the algae plant itself (used for drying the algae). Clay soils are used as opposed to lining which makes the ponds less expensive and easier to maintain.
Mr. David Johnston the CEO of Aquatic Energy chose the location of Louisiana due to the fact that rainfall exceeds evaporation rate, giving him free access to water resources, on top of that the former rice cultivation plants which have the clay soil base are suitable for the algae growth.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
August 2, 2009
There is a strong potential to grow algae for fuel in the Mediterranean Region particularly in Northern Africa. The presentation above highlights the ways algae can be harvested for oil/fuel and the potential for the entire Mediterranean Region.
The presentation was given by me at the 1st EMUNI ReS (Research Souk) conference in Portoroz, Slovenia and you can download a copy of the presentation here.
Kindly leave your comments and suggestions below.an
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome – Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
January 29, 2009
The race to be the first company to successfully commercialize algae oil has now been on for about a year and although many companies have successfully demonstrated at laboratory level and at pilot project level that algae oil is commercially viable, no-one has really scaled up and made the process commercially viable, YET, and I say YET with lots of optimism because the way science and industry especially in the US are working on algae to fuel it is just a matter of time – and money.
The University of Nevada seems to be one step ahead, according to Nevada News, they have first real-world, demonstration-scale project for turning algae into bio-fuel, and it has successfully completed the initial stage of research at the University of Nevada, Reno. Nevada News, goes on to say that the University is on track to show that the process of turning algae in fuel is economically and commercially viable. Furthermore they are managing to harvest their crop outdoors (therefore in open ponds) at temperatures that are well below the recommended average temperature for algae harvesting of >15 degrees Celsius.
The University researchers are working together with industry partners Enegis, LLC and Bebout and Associates.
The University’s 19,000 litre ponds are being used for the pilot in Reno and thus far they have produced several hundred gallons of concentrated algal slurry. The algae are thriving said the researchers at Reno and the cells grow out and reach a stationary phase within 2 to 3 weeks. The algae grew despite the night temperatures dropping to -3/4 degrees Celsius.
Their goal said Professor John Cushman, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is to develop a hardy variety of salt-loving algae as alternative bio-fuel feedstock, which produces more than half its weight in oil – as well as developing a practical process to grow, concentrate and harvest the algae. The alga variety harvested was selected and cultured by the University, and future varieties will be developed by the University.
Enegis, LLC and Bebout and Associates, are very excited about their investments and expect to see possible financial returns and benefits coming their way soon.
There is no mention on they University of Nevada website on the use of CO2 for the algae. It is a known fact that by introducing CO2 into algae they will grow up to 4 times quicker therefore increasing the yields. Is CO2 not being fed to the algae? I am wondering if there is someone who can answer this or perhaps one of the researchers at University of Nevada, or Professor John Cushman himself.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
Spirulina is the most nutritious food on the planet. It is packed with protein, vitamins and minerals in an easily digestible form – which makes it incredibly good for the body. It is a food supplement that can be used by anybody at anytime. Amongst other things it is very good for people infected with the HIV virus, the malnourished, anaemic, diabetic, etc. It is very good for the elderly as it is for children. It has particular benefits for athletes and gym goers
Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
