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Quinoa: An ancient crop to contribute to world food security

This technical report, produced by Fundación para la Promoción e Investigación de Productos Andinos PROINPA, offers a rationale and practical approach to the nutritional benefits and agricultural versatility of quinoa. The expansion of the crop to other continents show its potential to contribute to food security in various regions worldwide, especially in countries where the population does not have access to adequate protein sources or where food production conditions are currently limited by low humidity, reduced availability of inputs, and aridity.
Certainly quinoa contains all the essential amino acids - and has a favorable balance of them in comparison with other vegetable foods -, trace elements and vitamins and no gluten. In addition, the crop has an extraordinary adaptability to different agro-ecological regions, undoubtedly due to its strategic gene pool for developing superior varieties.
This report, although technical, is not a “know how” manual per se. It presents a sound analytical framework providing updated and detailed information with respect to: general context, nutritional properties, genetic diversity, varieties and germplasm banks, agronomy and adaptability, food and industrial potential, as well as economic and commercialization aspects throughout the world.
The publication targets all readerships and contributes to improving knowledge and information dissemination about this ancient crop, which has a significant strategic value for the food and nutritional security of humanity.