1. Providing Alternative Income and Nutrition to Fisherman through Spirulina Farming
EnerGaia’s unique production technology empowers local women in rural communities to become micro- entrepreneurs and creates a new value chain to drive both nutrition and income. Our low-cost spirulina production system is environmentally sustainable, highly scalable, and only requires 9 hours of work per week, affording the smaller the ability to manage other tasks while generating a stable additive income. Spirulina is 60% protein and extremely dense in nutrients. Through this project, we empower local fishermen by providing access to an alternative source of income, a new source of protein, and training programs.
EnerGaia’s core business is the production of the highly nutritious microalgae, spirulina platensis, and the manufacture of finished food products using this microalgae. Our key products include spirulina production systems technology as well as fresh spirulina, dry spirulina powder, and spirulina infused foods (pastas, energy snacks). Our primary farms in Bangladesh are in Dhaka, Gazipur and Mymensingh. Our organisation also has 4 farms in Thailand. We have a 6 year track record operating our proven business model on a commercial scale in Thailand making mainstream food products with wide consumer acceptance for taste and nutritional value.
EnerGaia has launched a project in Teluk Bogam, Central Kalimantan in partnership with WWF. WWF has provided a staff member that relocated to the community and has been essential in setting up the program. EnerGaia has built a farmhouse inline with the necessary certifications for spirulina production, hired highly skilled microbiologists who completed their training at EnerGaia’s Bangkok office, purchased the necessary equipment for spirulina production and sourced all necessary nutrients locally. EnerGaia has held sessions with the community members and has identified the 30 interested participants for the first training program. Initial visits have been conducted confirm the land area that participants had planned to designate are appropriate. EnerGaia has engaged with women of the community to start to develop local recipes using spirulina, meet with the clinic staff to identify local health concerns and visited the nearby school.
EnerGaia has faced challenges with barrier to enter a new country. Specifically locally sources the materials need for initial setup and continued production. This challenge was increased by the remoteness of the islands. Some items can be found in the larger cities but require in country shipping and others will need to be imported. Importing comes with significant fees and time delays. Transportation to Kalimantan has also set us back quite a bit as it will take anywhere from days to ship since there is not direct transport. We faced barriers when we were not able to raise the budgeted funds. EnerGaia closed an investment round but the close took 5 months longer than anticipated. With the close of the investment EnerGaia can now provide the necessary funds to purchase the necessary equipment.
Local fishermen cautiously try the spirulina rice noodles
Cooking Mee Goreng with Spirulina Noodles
EnerGaia is in the process of hiring qualified employees to run the local program. Once the tanks have been innoculated, EnerGaia will begin training the interested members of the local community to be spirulina farmers. The two month training program will cover skill development, finance, and nutrition. After completing the training program graduates will be eligible to make a down payment to purchase a system of 30 tanks to run at their home. Farmers will harvest spirulina every 6-10 days and bring their harvest to EnerGaia’s farm for processing and drying. A portion of the spirulina earnings will go towards repayment for the tanks.
EnerGaia’s lab and processing center
EnerGaia’s spirulina tank technology