Startup with the Spirulina farming model

Spirulina is considered a green superfood and was chosen as a startup model by Mr. Van Huu Tai in Tan Hanh commune, Long Ho district, Vinh Long province.

Mr. Van Huu Tai started his career from the Spirulina farming model in Vinh Long. Photo: Minh Dam.

With the knowledge acquired when he was a student at the University of Natural Sciences (National University of Ho Chi Minh City), Mr. Tai boldly invested in an algae farm in the family's vacant land. Currently, Mr. Van Huu Tai has established a production and trading facility for Spirulina products with the brand name Mekong Spirulina. There are two types of products: fresh algae and dried algae.

Mr. Van Huu Tai shared that he has been passionate and immersed in this algae since he was a third-year student, and started dreaming of a graduation thesis based on his research on this algae. He realized the thesis on his homeland, brought Spirulina back to tame, and propagated Spirulina with a production brand in Vietnam. Mr. Tai's Spirulina powder product has the aroma of the sea, the typical taste of seaweed but not as fishy as other algae.

According to Mr. Tai, during his studies, after having been introduced to Spirulina by his subject teachers, he was particularly impressed by its high nutritional content. Medicinal properties in algae, especially Phycocyanin and Chlorophyll, both help prevent diseases and are valuable in cosmetic production. Since then, he had decided to choose the Spirulina research model for his university graduation thesis.

The protein content in algae ranges from 50-70%, which can be said to be the highest of all foods. At present, with Mr. Tai's farming techniques, algae can reach over 60% of protein content. With the high nutrition content in algae, the young entrepreneur confidently reveals that just using 3g of dried algae, the human body will be provided with energy equivalent to a meal.

Moreover, it is possible to use dried algae directly by mixing it with warm water. Many dishes can be cooked from dried algae. When making soups, algae can be added to enhance nutrition and can also be used to make cakes.

As claimed by Mr. Tai, algae farming is also affected by weather factors, "does not like the sun, does not accept the rain", which greatly affects the yield and quality. Through many trials, so far, his facility has successfully raised algae with a self-created model of 8 tanks (3m3 of water/tank), harvests after every 15 days, produces 2-3 kg of fresh algae/tank.

Spirulina powder is a product made up of green spiral filamentous microalgae called Spirulina, which grows in oceans, saltwater lakes in subtropical climates.

This product is abundant on the Vietnamese market at the moment, and has been likened by scientists as a "green superfood", a product with high nutritional content, has many good uses, and effective for human health.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) assesses that Spirulina is a valuable source of nutrients and medicinal substances.

Despite the difficulties at the beginning of the startup, Mr. Tai still believes that "Mekong Spirulina" will not be far behind other types of algae, and will assert the brand through the OCOP program, creating the typical product of the land of Long Ho (Vinh Long). Presently, Mr. Tai's Mekong Spirulina product has achieved the 3-star OCOP certificate issued by the People's Committee of Vinh Long province.

After a year of researching and bringing the product to the market, Mr. Tai realized that the product has potential for development. In the near future, Mr. Tai has harboured a plan to combine with local authorities to develop an algae farming cooperative in his hometown of Tan Hanh.