Guest blog by Ashley L. Zeik, a Youth Delegate for IIMSAM
What if the solution to the complete eradication of malnutrition not only existed, but was readily available, waiting for the opportunity to get into the hands of those that need it most? The resolution to this heart-wrenching issue is accessible in the form of a micro-alga known as Spirulina, and the time for it to be distributed is now.
As you no doubt know, we live in a world where the balance of health is extremely lopsided. Numerous individuals and organizations have tried to ease the global crisis of malnutrition, whether through personal effort or large-scale mobilization, but the unfortunate truth is that their resources have never quite managed to make the global impact that is so desperately needed. These efforts have, however, breathed new life into the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations, the first of which is the destruction of world hunger. It is the goal of IIMSAM (the Intergovernmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, an Intergovernmental Observer to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations) to be a key driver in the achievement of this goal.
Spirulina, an alga, is the richest whole-food source available in nature. It is extremely digestible and contains every natural known antioxidant a healthy body could need. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and perhaps most importantly for those who are malnourished- protein. In fact, with around 70% protein content, Spirulina yields 20 times more protein per unit area than soybeans, 40 times more than corn, and over 200 times more than beef.
As a Youth Delegate for IIMSAM, I have personally witnessed the wonderful things the consumption of Spirulina can do for the severely ill and malnourished. Just one gram of Spirulina a day is sufficient to bring a child who is severely malnourished to health, and this can all be accomplished within a few weeks. The truly beautiful thing about this wonder-alga is the fact that its growth and cultivation is both affordable and efficient. It would take well over 100 acres of land to generate the same amount of protein from beef as can be supplied by just one acre of Spirulina. Imagine the health potential! Cultivation is a simple process, and the cost of a tank that can produce 150 grams of Spirulina a day runs only $500. Spirulina can be grown in all types of environments, as it does not require fertile land for growth. In fact, production can actually benefit from saline soil conditions.
Due to all of these factors (efficiency, accessibility, ease of cultivation, cost-effectiveness), IIMSAM recognizes the great potential of Spirulina to feed the hungry masses, as does the United Nations. In 1974, Spirulina was declared by the United Nations Food Conference as, “the best food for the future”. In 2008, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report in which they urged governments to reevaluate the potential of Spirulina to fulfill food security needs.
IIMSAM has made it its duty to bring these urgent recommendations to light. The organization has made numerous strides towards eradicating malnutrition through the production of Spirulina in order to restore health to entire communities. In 2009, IIMSAM’s Dar Al Muamineen Centre in Kisumu, Kenya was able to provide approximately 90,000 Spirulina feeding visits. IIMSAM hopes to promote and restore health and vitality to other poorly afflicted parts of the world, such as Haiti. Imagine what we could do with your help, support and love. The possibilities lay in you.
For more information on how you can help, please visit: www.iimsam.org
Or take the pledge: www.iimsamspirulinapledge.org
