EXPO celebrates the role of Andean grains
08.09.2015
The value chain of Andean cereals and their potential for sustainable development and the fight against hunger was discussed at Expo at an event organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign affairs and moderated by Oxfam Italy on 7 September.
The event was opened by the Minister Cristiano Maggipinto, Head of Office of the General Directorate for Development Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and attended by representatives of the Bolivian Government, the Mountain Partnership Secretariat as well by academics and non-governmental organization (NGOs) representatives.
Worldwide demand for quality, high-value and traditional foods and crafts produced in mountain areas is on the rise, underlined the participants. In particular the traditional crops quinoa and amaranth have a high nutritional quality and are easily adaptable to the Andean climate. However, as underlined by Professor Avitabile of the Universita La Sapienza Tre, while the recent boom of the export market of quinoa has boosted many farmers livelihoods, it has also driven down quinoa consumption in the Andes—including among the very farmers who grow it.
“It is important to protect the mountain farmers and provide them with access to markets, extension services, credit and information,” said Sara Manuelli of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat. “Often mountain producers receive very small part of the total income generated by the sale of their products. There is a need to reinforce the value chain and reduce the role of middlemen to make it more equitable.”
A FAO Bolivia project integrating camelid rearing and quinoa cultivation was also presented as well as a photographic book to mark the 2016 International Year of Camelids.
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