Crop Classification and Country of origin

The first thing we might think of, if we hear quinoa is that it is some kind of a cereal or a “ healthier version “ of rice, which it is actually not. The following paragraph is solving the riddle and gives a short introduction on the crop and to one of the countries it is produced in: Bolivia.

Quinoa, classified as the species Chenopodium quinoa wild and comes from the genus of ChenopodiumL. which includes crops such as sugar beets and many other species. Quinoa is part oft he Amaranthaceas family, Order of Caryophyllales, Class of Magnoliopsida, Subdivision of seed plants and from the Kingdom of Plantae. (Report, n.d )Therefore Quinoa could be categorized as a grain crop as it is cultivated for the seeds its produces. Even as the crop is not considered as Poaceae (such as cereals), quinoa is sometimes still mentioned in this group of cereal crop because of its high starch content. Another category where Quinoa fits into is pulses beacuse besides the moderate starch content, the  Quinoa seeds are high in protein and contain no gluten which especially attracts consumer who are aiming to live on a healthy diet. Another big advantage of the crop is that the cultivation can be applied in high climate risk regions as the plant tolerates water with some salt content, high winds, frosts and also drought. (n.d, M. Smith)  Due to the adaptability and the high nutritional value of the crop, it has been selected by FAO as one of the crops which provide food security in the next century.  (n.d, Botanical)

Figure 1 Quinoa crop (Quinoa info, n.d) 

The center of origin and genetic diversity of the plant goes way back in history and started on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Since 3000 b.C., Quinoa has been cultivated by the Incas. This is why the crop is also called the Mother of the grain. The seeds are traditionally consumed in the highlands of Andes in South America but since the last decade the demand of quinoa in other countries has skyrocked which also has an effect on the economy and ecology of the region the crop comes from. (N.Romer, 2015)

There are many issues associated with the growing demand of the ´health food´ which are having an effect on the environment where the crop grows at, as well as the food prices in Bolivia and in importing countries. The next post will go more into detail on the issues which are associated with the growing demand of this super food. 

References

Botanical,O., (n.d), Quinoa Characteristics, year accessed: 2016 from http://www.botanical-online.com/english/quinoa_characteristics.htm

Report, I. (n.d ). Chenopodium quinoa Willd .Date acessed: September 2017 from Taxonomix Serial No: 506567 : https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506567#null

Romer, N.(December 2015), Do you know where your Quinoa comes from? , year accessed: 2016 from http://nacla.org/news/2015/12/23/do-you-know-where-your-quinoa-comes

Smith,M. (n.d), Quinoa, year accessed 2016 from http://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/grains-oilseeds/quinoa/

Figure 1: Quinoa crop, year acessed: 2016 from Quinoa.info