Sardinian Spirulina Patent Granted in Japan, Russia; ISS Sample Sent 2026

Spirulina patent Japan Russia International Space Station

A collaborative research team led by the University of Cagliari, University of Sassari, Crs4, the Sardinian Aerospace District (DASS) and Tolo Green filed a patent on the micro‑alga Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in October 2021. The patent, covering a process that uses a modified clinostat to reproduce reduced‑gravity and Martian‑atmosphere conditions on Earth, has been granted in Japan and Russia, while evaluations for Europe, the United States, China and India are underway.

Spirulina, a cyanobacterium that yields protein‑rich biomass already used in human food, is promoted as a future food source for long‑duration space missions. NASA has studied it for years, and in 2026 a sample was launched to the International Space Station as part of a Japanese experiment. The project was coordinated by Giacomo Cao, president of DASS, with key contributions from Professor Alessandro Concas and researcher Giacomo Fais of the University of Cagliari’s Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering.

Entities

Alessandro Concas · Crs4 (Centro di Ricerche, Sviluppo e Studi Superiori in Sardegna) · DASS (Distretto Aerospaziale della Sardegna) · Giacomo Cao · Giacomo Fais · Giancomo Fais · Giuseppe Fais · Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) · University of Cagliari · University of Sassari

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 15 SOURCES] Evaluation for patent approval is ongoing in Europe, United States, China and India. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] NASA has studied Spirulina for long‑duration space missions and plans to send a sample to the International Space Station in 2026. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Cagliari contributed significantly to the research. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The patent has been granted in Japan and in Russia. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The innovation uses a modified clinostat to simulate reduced gravity and Martian atmospheric conditions on Earth. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a cyanobacterium that produces protein‑rich biomass used in human food. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] A patent on Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) was filed in October 2021 by the University of Cagliari, University of Sassari, Crs4, DASS and Tolo Green. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +10 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Giuseppe Cao coordinated the project as president of the Sardinian Aerospace District (DASS). www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · www.corcianonline.it · +8 more
[● 15 SOURCES] A sample of Spirulina was sent to the International Space Station in 2026 as part of a Japanese experiment. www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.adnkronos.com · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · +10 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The project was coordinated by Giacomo Cao, president of the Sardinian Aerospace District (DASS). www.lospecialegiornale.it · www.adnkronos.com · www.egnews.it · notiziedi.it · www.calabrianews.it · +10 more