Published date: August 2, 2021
Among enthusiasts it is called “food of the gods” thanks to its high nutritional value. Due to its ease of consumption it is also the ideal food source for astronauts. And at the 2021 Venice Biennale this marine protein with numerous benefits was rediscovered as an excellent ally in the fight against domestic CO₂ emissions.
What is spirulina algae?
It is certainly the most curious product in the Boniviri catalog, all to be discovered and experimented. Spirulina algae was cultivated mainly by the Aztecs near Lake Texcoco, where it was also consumed by pregnant women. Today, cultivation takes place in freshwater tanks in Europe and Italy, including the Boniviri brand spirulina, produced in Ragusa.
Nutritional benefits
A source of energy and proteins, rich in iron and natural pigments such as phycocyanin, beta-carotene and chlorophyll, it is among the most appreciated super-foods, one of the most powerful and balanced food resources that the earth can offer us.
Health properties
It has countless beneficial effects on health: it strengthens the immune system and fights tiredness, it has energizing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and purifying properties. It helps regulate blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
In the kitchen
Whether sweet or savory, there are many recipes to indulge in and experiment with the powdered “food of the gods”, enriching them with flavor, making them even healthier. Add to smoothies, drinks, fruit juices, milk and yogurt for a rich breakfast or a nutritious snack. An energizing milk with spirulina, for example, is ideal to start the day or before an intense workout. It is obtained by heating a little vegetable milk, without bringing it to the boil, adding a spoonful of spirulina and also one of Boniviri multiflower honey. Also try adding it to basic doughs, such as biscuits and even pasta!
Curiosity | Spirulina – How will we live together?
Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto of ecoLogicStudio (London, UK) exhibited in the pavilions of the Arsenale of the Venice Biennale 2021 BIT.BIO.BOT, an interesting 1:1 scale installation, an immersive experiment on the domestic cultivation of the urban microbiome, and in particular of spirulina.
In addition to the many nutritional benefits listed above, thanks to the great work of the eLS team in London, it has been demonstrated that spirulina is an excellent ally in the fight against air pollution and with great potential for self-production within homes, building a suspended garden made of water, ampoules and spirulina algae.
It is the result of 10 years of research in bio-digital design, combining computational design strategies (BIT) with proprietary fabrication techniques (BOT) to implement a collective microbiological cultivation (BIO) protocol.
BIT.BIO.BOT is composed of three fluidly interconnected systems that embody the fundamental architectural environments of a future home: the Living Cladding, the Vertical Garden and the Convivium. At the heart of BIT.BIO.BOT is photosynthesis, powered by the sun and the metabolism of Spirulina Platensis and Chlorella SP crops. These living organisms, among the oldest on Earth, have developed a unique biological intelligence that allows them to convert solar radiation into oxygen and biomass with unparalleled efficiency.
For example, while in active production, the Vertical Garden is able to absorb CO₂ at the rate of three large mature trees, providing a clear path towards carbon neutrality in architecture.
And that's why it couldn't be missing from the range of products chosen by Boniviri.
