A FARM — Agriculturalist David Krane holds raw spirulina in front of his Pierson farm.
David Krane is a local agriculturist who specializes in growing spirulina.
Spirulina is a green paste that contains health benefits such as magnesium and high levels of protein. Krane founded a global orphan charity and a spirulina farm network, earning an award for feeding thousands of people, including kids in five schools in Uganda, where the need is great.
Krane’s story started when he encountered a Facebook post about Ugandan orphans.
He then began donating money to help with rent and food-based supplies. After some time, he decided he needed to help in other ways.
Krane researched food security in Uganda and found someone who worked in the State Department who provides aid in the country. The man then helped Krane replicate spirulina farms overseas under his guidance.
Blue Atlas Project, a conservation organization, provided Krane with a $75,000 grant to help fuel his project. Blue Atlas now depicts the venture as their flagship project on their website, blueatlasproject.org.
YUM — Ugandan spirulina operation that was founded by Krane.
Krane is moving to replicate the growing process by buying “kits” that contain supplies to build a spirulina cultivation farm from a wholesale website to expand his range of places where spirulina can help.
To gain traction for granters to assist him, he began marketing and selling the superfood at places like the Artisan Alley farmers market to show its marketability. He also has made a TikTok account to gain visibility and bring people in on his charity work.
“It grows up to 50 percent per day … and it’s 65-percent protein per dry weight,” said Krane.
Krane’s goal is to change the global food market away from corn, wheat and soy to spirulina.
Innovation like this is blossoming in Volusia County, and is only going to grow from here.
