Agrotechnology

Quinoa crop: Opportunities and challenges for a rapidly changing world

5^th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture

June 27-29, 2016 Cape Town, South Africa

Enrique A Martínez

Center for the Advanced Studies in Arid Zones, Chile

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared in 2013 that quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) was one of the most important plant genetic resources for the future of the humanity. This nomination was due to its outstanding tolerance to abiotic stress like drought, freezing temperatures, poor soils, due to its great richness in varieties growing from Colombia in northern South America to near the austral regions of Patagonia by the southern lowlands of Chile. FAO also pointed out, its extremely rich nutritional/functional values and the opportunity for improving healthcare in poorly fed people. Its food quality helps those at lack of nutritional foods as well as those having excess of bad quality foods (under overweight and obesity). Although the interest in cultivating quinoa has grown in many countries out of its original sources in South America, the number of hectares where this crop is cultivated is still low -less than 130,000 when compared to cereals having millions of hectares. This is particularly striking, when we consider the increasing international demand for this crop. Then, there is a great scope for opportunities of developing it under a sustainable growth. Here, we describe the functional value of its grains and leaves and how ecological practices of soil management can be important to increase crop yields. I also give hints to consider for its sustainable transformation and for its fair trade and healthy market development.

Biography :

Email: enrique.a.martinez@ceaza.cl