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Greens For Good – Spirulina on Lake Chad

Dried spirulina - Copyright GCCA+ credit: Denis Sassous

Spirulina is the main ingredient in Hence Greens Stack, making up a whopping 2,430mg per scoop made up with water. The eco-friendly, and super nutrient dense ‘spirulina’ grows in abundance in the “natron” ponds of the Lake Chad basin, located in West Africa. The spirulina is harvested, turned into powder by a grinder, and then water is added to form a paste. It is then moulded onto a drying rack and left to dry in the sun.  

Processing spirulina paste - Copyright GCCA+ credit: Denis Sassous

The algae that is rich in protein (15g of spirulina has as much protein as 100g of beef!) is part of a wider scale for good than just a Western modern-day superfood. Spirulina has been used for centuries across Africa, and it is NOW being promoted as a treatment for malnutrition in developing countries! THAT is the level of awesomeness of this ingredient.

Dried spirulina - Copyright GCCA+ credit: Denis Sassous

Harvesting spirulina in blistering 40 degree heat is a practise that is all too familiar to the women and girls of Lake Chad. But this group of women are now involved in a much, much greater project – “the spirulina processing is part of an 8 million Euro project by the EU’s flagship climate change programme GCCA+ to help communities in Chad adapt to the impacts of climate change and develop renewable energies”.

Solar panels provide energy to irrigate the fields - Copyright GCCA+ credit: Denis Sassous

Providing energy to the fields for irrigation helps the farmers manage the unpredictable weather patterns that Chad falls victim to, not only for the spirulina farms but also for the other vegetables that are cultivated there. Through education on maintenance of the solar motor pumps, this climate friendly technology has offered a solution to the previous dwindling agricultural productivity, which was causing an increase in poverty for the farmers and their families.

Women harvesting spirulina - Copyright GCCA+ credit: Denis Sassous

We think you’ll agree, that spirulina is truly a Greens for Good superfood.