After three years of experimentation Abdul Qadir Bakr’s dream of extracting vitamins from the algae known as spirulina came true.
Abdul Qadir Bakr 28 from Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza city graduated from Agricultural engineer assistant major. He has established the first farm in Palestine which specializes in extracting vitamins from the algae “Spirulina”.
The draconian Israeli siege on Gaza pushes Palestinians to create innovative ways to survive and thrive. The critical need for nutritious sources of vitamins and minerals in the Gaza Strip motives Bakr to pursue providing alternatives to the population of Gaza in the face of widespread malnutrition and the expensive price of imports.
Bakr explained to me how he came up with the idea. “One day I found scientific publications that introduced me to the benefits of this type of algae” he says including its usage in nutrition and fertilizers for plants and animals. Intrigued he set out to learn more.
“Spirulina algae is a type of blue-green algae that absorbs sunlight for its cells to produce nutrients that help maintain the pH of the body. “
During the spread of the COVID-19 virus in 2020 Bakr underwent online training through an Egyptian university studying the mechanism of producing algae and extracting vitamins from it.
“It was not easy as I live in the Gaza strip which has been under Israeli blockade for 17 years” he says. “Many important items and materials are prevented from entering Gaza which made my mission impossible to accomplish.” However compelled by the critical conditions of life under the Israeli siege Bakr refused to be deterred and made multiple attempts to invent a useful product to help those surviving under the blockade.
He started his process of invention by firstly contacting specialists via Internet in many countries seeking assistance and guidance to help him carry out the experiment in the Gaza Strip and to examine whether the environment was suitable. He adds “I also searched for the possibility of cultivating it in Gaza.”
Providing live material and necessary components for growing the algae inside the Gaza Strip was the biggest challenge facing Bakr until he was able to import them. He brought algae samples from abroad and experimented in adapting them to the climate of Gaza. Some experiments succeeded and others failed.
The production process began and the algae began to increase in its potency. He sent samples to specialists in Egypt for examination in order to ascertain his success. This process was wracked with challenges created by the siege and occupation authorities. Bakr says “I sent samples to specialists outside Gaza to ascertain its success or failure but the samples got ruined many times. On one occasion the authorities prevented the sample from being dipped altogether and another time the sample was delayed for several hours while crossing the border.”
Bakr says the algae he produces are a strain of blue-green bacteria used in more than one field due to their high nutritional value as a source of minerals and proteins.
He added “These algae are suitable for plant use as a bio-fertilizer as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. They are also used as a food supplement for animals and they raise the immunity of animals reducing their incidence of diseases.”
For human customers to benefit from consuming the algae he suggests mixing spirulina with juice water salads or other meals.
After receiving official approval from the Ministries of Health and Agriculture; Bakr plans to obtain commercialization of his product. He expressed hope that the project will achieve great success.
– Wafa Aludaini is a Gaza-based journalist and activist. She contributed this report to the Palestinian Information Center.
