Role of Spirulina highlighted amid perilous increase in malnutrition & world hunger

Online, August 29, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Doha/ August 29, 2009
IIMSAM Middle East Director & Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Naseer Homoud verbalize on importance of Spirulina in combating the hazard of malnutrition and world hunger.

While expressing deep concerns over the alarming escalation in world hunger and malnutrition rates together with high increase in foodstuff prices all over the globe, Dr. Naseer S Homoud, Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council highlighted the importance of Spirulina in fighting the hazard of malnutrition and world hunger related issued predominantly amongst children.

Dr. Naseer while addressing the media highlighted the importance of usage of Spirulina amid contemporary challenges related to malnutrition and world hunger. Expressing his apprehensions on the issue he further said "where the governments are brainstorming on how to feed the world by 2050 amid shortage of food supplies, industrialization of green lands and sharp dwindle in ground water level thus also creating unbalanced distribution of the foods amongst the people, it is the matter of deep concern how to control the situation thereby saving world civilization fro perishing." the Spirulina which has a tremendous potential of serving nutrition to the hunger ridden people and there is no denying of this very fact because of what it has been termed as "food for the future".

While stressing upon the need of widespread cultivation of Spirulina Dr. Naseer said "in contemporary era of unremitting modernization of human civilization it is sardonic to note that still major chunk of children principally in developing and under developed nations are starving and losing their battles against hunger. The duties which are encompassed to us as a human being doesn't not ends with ourselves, as a human being we have certain foremost duties which are apart from differences prevailing between geo political entities". Amid issues related to alarming increase in undernourishment rates, Dr. Naseer further contended that the governments are keen to increase their defense budgets while at same time overlooking the threat of malnutrition and hunger related grave issues.

Highlighting the role of Spirulina Dr. Naseer is of view that it has two out of the ordinary features which are adequate to fight underfeeding cases, on the one hand, the cost involved in farming of Spirulina and requirements thereto are very fewer, it can be grown on even unfertile land and without cornucopia of water supply; on the other hand it has been scientifically proved that Spirulina is much better nourishment dose in comparison to others on such diverse specifications.

Spirulina is blue - green algae. It is a simple, one-celled form of algae that thrives in warm, alkaline fresh-water bodies. The name "Spirulina" is derived from the Latin word for "helix" or "spiral"; denoting the physical configuration of the organism when it forms swirling, microscopic strands. Spirulina is being developed as the "food of the future" because of its amazing ability to synthesize high-quality concentrated food more efficiently than any other algae. Most notably, Spirulina is 65 to 71 percent complete protein, with all essential amino acids in perfect balance. Spirulina has a photosynthetic conversion rate of 8 to 10 percent, compared to only 3 percent in such land-growing plants as soybeans.

Calling the world governments to amalgamate on the case, Dr Naseer further argued on the need to develop unified and inclusive strategy to enhance and support cultivation and supply of Spirulina so that nutritional alternatives to food shortage are well available.

Appreciating the efforts of IIMSAM under the visionary leadership of His Excellency Ambassador Remigio M. Maradona Director General of the IIMSAM, Dr Naseer said that IIMSAM is doing fabulous humanitarian job in fighting malnutrition and world hunger. He also expressed his pleasure on recent award by the Regional Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K) exhibition show to IIMSAM as the best educational and research partner. Dr. Naseer further pleaded to support the cause and to do the best to this end so that IIMSAM can be a key instrument in achieving united national millennium development goals.