Blue-green algae growing in natural lakes may consist of several species. Harvesting can pose safety problems if one of them is toxic. However, by growing spirulina in designed ponds under controlled conditions, a pure culture can be maintained, which is not possible in natural lakes.

For these reasons, farms have developed rapidly over the last 20 years. Commercial systems have evolved in the United States, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, China, India and other countries.

• Guided tour of the world's largest spirulina farm.
• Cultivating only one pure algae.
• Ecological pond cultivation.
• Highest quality nutrients.
• A continuous fresh harvest.
• Quick drying preserves nutrients.
• Tableted and bottled finished products.
• Pesticide free. | Certified organic.
• Super spirulina and new research.
• Rigorous quality control and ISO 9001 program.
  
• Comparing to other microalgae: chlorella, aphanizomenon, dunaliella, haematococcus.
• Worldwide spirulina farms.
• Lake harvest farms.
• Advanced pond cultivation systems.
• Tubes, bioreactors and microfarms.
• Integrated production farms.
  

Beginning in 1977, the first U.S. algae entrepreneurs began testing pilot ponds. They chose California's Imperial Valley because of its hot desert sunshine and remote location far from urban pollution. In 1981, a unique partnership between these California entrepreneurs and Japanese Corporate intrapreneurs founded Earthrise Farms. They shared a common vision of microalgae's coming impact on the global economy. Earthrise Farms began production in 1982.

World's largest spirulina farm
Merging U.S. and Japanese innovation, technology and resources, Earthrise became the world's largest spirulina farm, expanding to cover the entire 108 acre site. and today supplies over 40 countries with the world's best known spirulina. In 1996, the farm produced nearly 500 metric tons of dry powder.

Keeping out weed algae
Hundreds of aquatic organisms can bloom in nutrient rich water in warm sunshine, just as in a natural lake or swimming pool. Unlike a garden, weeding out unwanted algae is a difficult task since this algae is microscopic. Preventing weed algae from taking over is the key to growing a pure culture.

6.4. Pure cultures in the farm laboratory.

Ecological pond management
Conventional farmers kill weeds and pests in their fields with pesticides and herbicides, leaving residues in the environment, on farm workers, and in your food. Earthrise Farms scientists keep out weed algae without toxic chemicals using a specially designed pond system and balancing the pond ecology. Producing spirulina under these controlled conditions does not allow growth of contaminant or weed algae as in lakes and waterways.

6.5. The primary production ponds have food grade liners.
Each pond is 5000 square meters- larger than a football field.

Ecological farming produces vital, healthy and unpolluted foods. Although there are differences in farming land crops and algae, similar ecological practices are followed at Earthrise Farms. In this remote and sunny part of California, far from cities, highways and airports, the air is clean. Mineral rich Colorado river water, which supplies seven states of the U.S. Southwest, is pumped through canals, to large settling ponds, through filters into the growing ponds.

6.6. Clean fresh water and nutrients are added daily to feed the algae. No pesticides or herbicides are used.

Carbon Dioxide is bubbled into the water
All plants need carbon to grow. Plant leaves take in carbon from the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, but algae need carbon in the water. Algae grows so quickly that atmospheric CO2 cannot penetrate the water fast enough to sustain growth, so carbon must be added. The same high quality CO2 used in carbonated drinking waters is pumped directly into the ponds.

Pure mineral nutrients feed growing spirulina
Adding extra manure or organic matter directly into the water can foul the shallow ponds and disturb algae growth. Instead, clean, pure sources of mineral nutrients are used. Premium quality minerals like nitrogen, potassium, iron and essential trace elements nourish a consistent high quality spirulina.

6.7. Sunrise. Long paddlewheels continuously mix the pond water for optimum growth.

During the growing season, April through October, ponds are harvested every day. In the peak summer sun, harvesting occurs 24 hours a day, around the clock, to keep up with the explosive growth rate.

6.8. Pumps send algae rich water to the sealed harvest building.
6.9. Spirulina is separated from the water by a progression of screens.

A 15 minute journey from ponds to dry powder
Spirulina takes a quick trip through the stainless steel harvest and drying system, never touched by human hands. The first screen filters out pond debris. The next screens harvest the microscopic algae. The nutrient rich water is recycled back to the ponds. The final filter thickens spirulina from green yogurt to green dough. It is still 80% water inside the cells and needs to be dehydrated immediately.

Quick drying preserves nutrients

Spirulina droplets are sprayed into the drying chamber to flash evaporate the water. Dry powder is exposed to heat for several seconds as it falls to the bottom. Then it is vacuumed into a collection hopper in the packaging room. This quick process preserves heat sensitive nutrients, pigments and enzymes.

6.10. The spray drying tower is three stories tall.

Sealed in special oxygen barrier containers

No preservatives, stabilizers or additives are used in drying, and it is never irradiated. This powder has a high content of heat-sensitive phycocyanin, attesting to the drying quality. Fresh dried spirulina can be stored for five years or more in special oxygen barrier containers, retaining nearly full beta carotene potency.