Spirulina project ready for the international market

After seven years of planning, hard work and consultations, the Musina Municipality finally launched their Spirulina project and health product at Grayston Southern Sun, Sandton, on Wednesday last week.

The health product, which is made from algae, is the first production of its kind in Africa. This is because of the favourable hot climatic conditions and low rain fall in Musina. The Spirulina project is wholly owned by the Musina Municipality, through a company called Zelpy Pty Ltd.

The project has already made huge impact in the market after it sealed a deal with a renowned client, Pick & Pay. The United Pharmaceutical Distributors, which has more than 4 000 chemists affiliated, will also buy the product in bulk and distribute it to its clients. In the form of tablets after final production, the Musina Spirulina has been researched that it improves memory performance, fights cancer, has high quality protein, has 300% more calcium than milk, and contains chlorophyll that naturally cleanses the body, boosts the immune system and increases energy levels, amongst others.

Addressing the fully packed conference hall, Mayor Caroline Mahasela briefed them about the background of the project. "Towards the end of the year 2000, the Department of Provincial and Local Government approached municipalities with a view of providing funding for creation of Local Economic Development projects through its Local Economic Development Fund. We were then faced with a very difficult challenge of deciding on what kind of project to choose. From the onset, we knew that we wanted to run a unique project. Unlike other municipalities, we did not want to do community projects like gardening or poultry farming, which only benefits a few. We wanted a project that will be sustainable, one that will have a very long-term economic benefit to us as a municipality and to the people of Musina, and make an impact in the country. We looked around and our hot and dry climate provided us with a perfect solution."

Mahasela said the project will assist in pushing back the frontiers of poverty and fighting joblessness. "It will plough back its profits to the community by funding various community projects as reflected in our Integrated Development Plan and in Local Economic Development Plan. Through the profits of Sprulina, we will also be able to fund indigent community members by providing free basic services like water, electricity and refuse removals. We will also be able to invest in infrastructure development, maintenance of roads and provision of street lighting. This is over and above the direct permanent and temporary jobs that will be created once we are in full swing."

However, Mahasela warned that the launch is not the destination of the Musina Municipality. "This is the beginning of hard work and a vigorous marketing process as we are now advancing into an international Sprulina market. We need to keep up with the demand while ensuring that we maintain the high quality of our product. We need to redouble our efforts in an attempt to maintain this very high standard that we have set. We will also call the Department of Health to support our initiative by purchasing the Musina Sprulina and distribute it to various hospitals as food supplements to those who might need it."

News - Date: 07 September 2007

Wilson Dzebu

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