Name:
Production of spirulin for food consumption

Developed by:
ApuliaKundi
Italy

Country(ies) involved:
Italy

Funding sources:
Apulia Region (start up)

General idea:
Cultivation of the cyanobaterium Spirulina for the preparation of several types of functional foods and integrators for human consumption

Description:
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a cyanobacterium known for its extraordinary content in nutrient compound, and also known as a “superfood” or “food of the future”. Moreover, the production of spirulina is highly sustainable since this alga utilizes CO2 to grow, and it thus sustains the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Apulia Kundi also provides support services to innovation and innovative enterprises to contribute to the development of new economies like the cultivation of algae and new products based on algae. The startup has born from an anthropologist and a chemist after being involved for several years in cooperation projects in Africa, where they discovered Spirulina, which is used in very poor regions to fight hunger. The startup is highly vocated to sustainability, by producing in a completely natura way the alga in their plant (no pesticides, no herbicides, it does not use cultivable soils). Spirulina produced by Apulia Kundi is sold as sticks, in pasta and beer and even in honey. Further interest of this startup are growing also for new sustainable application sectors such as cosmetics, nutraceutics, organic paper and bioplastics.

TRL:
9. Actual system proven in operational environment

Sources:
A webpage (https://www.apuliakundi.it/) and an illustrative brochure (https://www.apuliakundi.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ApuliaKundi_Brochure_new_2020_web-1.pdf)