Quinoa in Ecuador: Recent Advances under Global Expansion

• Main Authors: Leonardo Hinojosa, Alex Leguizamo, Carlos Carpio, Diego Muñoz, Camilo Mestanza, José Ochoa, Carmen Castillo, Angel Murillo, Elena Villacréz, Carlos Monar, Nicolas Pichazaca, Kevin Murphy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: <i>Chenopodium quinoa</i>; quinoa production; participatory plant breeding; quinoa processing
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/2/298

Quinoa is a highly diverse crop domesticated in the Andean region of South America with broad adaptation to a wide range of marginal environments. Quinoa has garnered interest worldwide due to its nutritional and health benefits. Over the last decade, quinoa production has expanded outside of the Andean region, prompting multiple studies investigating the potential for quinoa cultivation in novel environments. Currently, quinoa is grown in countries spanning five continents, including North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Here, we update the advances of quinoa research in Ecuador across different topics, including (a) current quinoa production situation with a focus on breeding progress, (b) traditional seed production, and (c) the impact of the work of the nongovernment organization “Central European Fair Alliance” with quinoa farmers in Chimborazo province. Additionally, we discuss genetic diversity, primary pests and diseases, actions for adapting quinoa to tropical areas, and recent innovations in quinoa processing in Ecuador. Finally, we report a case study describing a participatory breeding project between Washington State University and the Association of Andean Seed and Nutritional Food Producers Mushuk Yuyay in the province of Cañar.