Quinoa: An Incan Crop to Face Global Changes in Agriculture

Abstract

Environmental changes have always occurred in the past but in the last decades these have escalated to critical levels, presenting environmental risk to people, especially in terms of food supply, as it affects crop yield, production, and quality. Quinoa, a native grain to the Andean highlands in South America, could be an excellent alternative crop in many regions of the world. Archeological studies provide evidence on the consumption of quinoa as human food thousands of years before the first Spanish conquerors arrived in America. Among the nutritional attributes of quinoa seed, prominent is its high-quality protein that is gluten-free and has an exceptional amino acid balance. Soil salinization is one of the major environmental issues affecting crop production, especially in marginal landscapes or areas with limited resources. Research has focused on the identification and selection of plant species such as C. quinoa that are naturally tolerant to drought and salinity.