Production Technology

Growing phytoplankton is an extremely challenging task that requires knowledge and continuous training to achieve a quality consistent product, as well as investment in technical excellence and safety in production.
Since its establishment, the company has had a high level of expertise in the field of Spirulina cultivation, collaborating with a team of high level experts in Greece and abroad, who have been working on algal biotechnology and especially Spirulina since 1983 (Dr. I. Tzovenis) in the commercial cultivation of Spirulina since 1996, when the first production unit was established in Greece. Under the guidance of P. Anastasiadis, an architect engineer and founder of the company, the company developed high quality facilities and infrastructure for both cultivation and packaging and created a high quality natural product according to high international standards. In addition, the company participates in research projects with universities and research institutes to continuously improve their expertise and technological infrastructure.

Facilities and infrastructure

The company has 22.5 acres of land in Therma Nigrita with 7.5 acres of arched greenhouses for growing, harvesting and drying spirulina. The greenhouses house four 400 m2 cultivation tanks and two 200 m2 solar dryers. It has a building housing the pharmaceutical packaging, product shops, offices and a laboratory. Recently the company has started a strategic expansion with its subsidiary SPIRULINA NIGRITA ANASTASIADIS X. in the nearby area of Aleppo (Humniko), which has an area of 46 hectares with the installation of 31.5 hectares of high quality glass greenhouses. Currently, it has put into operation one 800 m2 raceway tank, four 850 m2 tanks and two of 1,500 m2. The company also has three double greenhouses with a total area of 1,500 m2 for natural drying of the product using geothermal and solar energy. It has two dedicated areas for harvesting using intensive filtration devices, ancillary areas and infrastructure for the use of geothermal energy and carbon dioxide from the area. It also has a large two-storey building of 560 m2 which houses the food packaging centre, offices, warehouses and a laboratory. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Figure 1. Spirulina culture tank of raceway pond type with a surface area of 350sqm in Therma (Nigrita).
Figure 2. Spirulina raceway-type cultivation tank of 1500sqm each in Fox (Chumniko Nigrita).
Figure 3 Spirulina raceway type culture tanks of 800sqm each in Fox (Chumniko Nigrita).
The production capacity of Spirulina Nigrita Group currently exceeds 20 tonnes, with the potential to exceed 100 tonnes at full growth. The company has access to a geothermal field of 1345 hectares for 35 years capable of pumping 200 m3/h of geothermal fluid with an average temperature of 60°C and high purity (> 99%) of carbon dioxide, i.e. environmentally friendly natural resources for Spirulina production all year round. The farm is located in the plain of Serres (Northern Greece) which has uninterrupted sunshine all day long for over 300 days a year. Combined with the geothermal field that provides constant heat and CO2, the location is best suited for growing an energy demanding phytoplankton such as Spirulina. Spirulina is grown in tanks constructed to modern standards and housed in greenhouses to ensure the crop is protected from natural and man-made negative factors. The production standards are in accordance with the requirements of the legislation and are certified by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food as an inland freshwater aquaculture unit.
Figure 4. Spirulina harvesting by filtration in Therma Nigrita
Figure 5. Spirulina tablets before being packed in blisters and cells at the company's pharmaceutical packaging facility in Therma Nigrita
Figure 5. Spirulina tablets before being packed in blisters and cells at the company's pharmaceutical packaging facility in Therma Nigrita

Processing and standardisation

Harvesting by filtration and controlled solar drying ensures the natural quality of the product, while preserving its sensitive components (proteins, carotenoids, vitamins), taste and smell, which would otherwise be degraded.
Figure 5. Solar drying greenhouse using also geothermal energy for mildly desiccating Spirulina at Therma Nigrita.
Figure 8. Spirulina raceway type culture tanks of 800sqm each in Fox (Humniko Nigrita).
Figure 9. Specialized Spirulina harvesting machine in Fox (Humniko Nigrita).
The composition of the finished product takes place in three distinct forms: tablets, powder and flakes. The bulk is packaged in a 100% Spirulina product with no excipients or impurities, making it a 100% natural product in both production and formulation. The whole process is carried out in the company’s pharmaceutical grade packaging plant,
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