Quinoa, or quinoa, is one of the original foods of the Peruvian Andes. This grain over 3,000 years old is included in the diet of millions of households. It is even an important part of the food diet of NASA astronauts.
It has also become a favorite product for many people around the world. The grain has survived thanks to the protection and cultivation of farmers. They got the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize their work to protect and conserve quinoa.
It should be noted that this product is consumed worldwide for its high nutritional content and its multiple benefits.
Why is quinoa key to human food security?
In 2013, former Bolivian President Evo Morales and then First Lady of Peru Nadine Heredia attended the UN event in New York. They accepted the inauguration of the FAO Special International Ambassador for Quinoa.
Ban Ki-moon, who served as UN Secretary-General until 2016, also participated in the ceremony. At the time, the South Korean mentioned that quinoa was the key to food security because it could eradicate poverty in many countries.
The International Year of Quinoa aims to draw global attention to the biodiversity of the product. In addition to its nutritional value in human food security and poverty alleviation. Quinoa is also recognized worldwide as a natural food resource originating in the Andes. Therefore, it is a high quality product that guarantees the health and food security of current and future generations,» said Ban Ki-moon.
Can quinoa withstand different geographical conditions?
Over the years, Andean farmers have managed to preserve quinoa, which can be grown in a variety of geographical conditions, making it an ideal food to combat the effects of climate change, desertification and soil degradation.
«Quinoa cultivation has spread from the Andean countries to North America, Europe and even other regions like India and Kenya,» Ban Ki-moon said. On the other hand, the former secretary general of the UN made it clear that quinoa must reach those who need it most for its nutritional value.
«When prices rise in line with global demand, the poor risk being excluded from local markets and forced to resort to cheaper and less nutritious products. Even farmers are tempted to sell their produce and eat less healthily», concluded Ban Ki-moon at a 2013 event in New York.
