Quinoa - here and there How a "superfood" trend in the US effects producers in Bolivia Birgit & Laura KSC Dietetic Interns

Objectives 1. Identify how and where quinoa is grown. 2. Be able to explain the consequences of higher quinoa demand. 3. Name two pros and cons for Bolivia’s exportation of quinoa. 4. Discuss how US consumer can influence the market.

FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean The International Year of the Quinoa

What is Quinoa? Chenopodium Quinoa Chenopod family "Superfood" Complete protein Healthy fats Higher content of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc when compared with other "grains" image: alterecofoods.com

Where is it grown Mostly in the arid mountains and coastal valleys of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile (80,000 tons harvest in 2010) In the US some small-scale farms are testing it, biggest is White Mountain Farm in the Colorado Rockies (US production less than 5 tons) emerging interest in other parts of the world

image: ediblecommunities.com image: lespetitesgourmettes.com

Bolivia

History of Quinoa quinoa was one of the staples of Inca food, together with maize quinoa means "mother grain" in the Inca language it was suppressed by the Conquistadores grew again in popularity in the 1970s in Bolivia it remained "peasant food" until recently since 2011 Bolivia supports quinoa farming

Demand – Supply - Price Demand of quinoa in the US increases prices increase quinoa production in Bolivia increased income of quinoa farmers increased

The dark side of increased production: soil depletion o less fertilization from llamas o no crop rotation o 30 % of the quinoa farmers come from the cities and don't follow traditional methods food production for the Bolivian market has decreased - malnutrition quinoa replaced by other food land disputes

Quinoa Quandary Fair Trade from Bolivia or locally grown?

Activity Please discuss in your groups Pros and Cons of Fair Trade quinoa from Bolivia or US grown quinoa. Think about effects on the price, incomes, environment, local markets. (It's o.k. to speculate).

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