Food scientist Fan Zhu’s study of quinoa indicates the crop will be important as humanity faces the climate emergency. The super food’s tolerance for extreme conditions could make it a key crop, he writes in an article first published by Newsroom (HERE). His article has been reposted (HERE) by the University of Auckland, which says the article reflects the opinion of the author and are not necessarily the university’s views.
Quinoa is an ancient seed, originally grown only in the high altitudes of South America’s Andes, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. Its popularity and price have surged over the past three decades because of health-conscious consumers attracted by its reputation as a “super food”.
After 10 years of research into quinoa and recently publishing the book about it, Quinoa, Chemistry and Technology, I believe quinoa is likely to play a major role in improving food security for a large proportion of the global population, and its tolerance for extreme conditions could make it a key crop for helping humans survive climate change.
Climate change has already contributed to crop failures around the world, especially in parts of Africa, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan, as well as in parts of Asia, including India and Pakistan. Continue reading →