Maybe we ought to rethink our consumption of Quinoa page

[Antiochia]

"But there is an unpalatable truth to face for those of us with a bag of quinoa in the larder. The appetite of countries such as ours for this grain has pushed up prices to such an extent that poorer people in Peru and Bolivia, for whom it was once a nourishing staple food, can no longer afford to eat it. Imported junk food is cheaper. In Lima, quinoa now costs more than chicken. Outside the cities, and fuelled by overseas demand, the pressure is on to turn land that once produced a portfolio of diverse crops into quinoa monoculture."

from:Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa? | Joanna Blythman | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

What do the rest of you think?

[JoanieL]

Interesting. I limit my quinoa intake to adding a tablespoon or two for crunch in some dishes. Perhaps once I've finished what's left in my cabinet, I'll just skip it. I've never really found it yummy enough to eat on its own.

[Mud Flinger]

I stopped eating the stuff 2 yrs ago when I went primal as quinoa is also high in lectins and best avoided for those of us who have auto- immune issues.

[namelesswonder]

I read this article recently. A lot of people came back and said, "That's why I try to buy US-grown foods!"

Well, it's a start, anyway.

[Chaohinon]

This article is beyond economically illiterate. Higher demand for quinoa = more money for folks in the quinoa business. And if peruvians are choosing to replace soil-friendly crop rotation with quinoa monoculture, then that's their problem. Buying a bag of quinoa in the U.S. doesn't magically force south americans to make stupid decisions.

And it seems like this economic ignorance is driven by nutritional ignorance. I find it difficult to give any shits about peruvians not being able to afford quinoa when they have access to things that are equally if not more nutritious, like rice and beans. If you believe quinoa is a "superfood" or otherwise a substantial source of protein and nutrients, then it becomes a cause for concern. But you'd be wrong.

[keithpowers]

Easy solution: Don't eat it in the first place.

[jojohaligo]

This article is beyond economically illiterate. Higher demand for quinoa = more money for folks in the quinoa business. And if peruvians are choosing to replace soil-friendly crop rotation with quinoa monoculture, then that's their problem. Buying a bag of quinoa in the U.S. doesn't magically force south americans to make stupid decisions.

And it seems like this economic ignorance is driven by nutritional ignorance. I find it difficult to give any shits about peruvians not being able to afford quinoa when they have access to things that are equally if not more nutritious, like rice and beans. If you believe quinoa is a "superfood" or otherwise a substantial source of protein and nutrients, then it becomes a cause for concern. But you'd be wrong.

I think I am in serious like, at the moment.

[Rojo]

This article is beyond economically illiterate. Higher demand for quinoa = more money for folks in the quinoa business. And if peruvians are choosing to replace soil-friendly crop rotation with quinoa monoculture, then that's their problem.

It depends on which Peruvians we're talking about. I'm sure the big land owners are getting rich. And I don't think all Peruvians are making this choice.

Often in these parts we bemoan the agribusiness model that has uprooted small farmers, killed crop diversity and made for crummy food. Same thing.

[qqemokitty]

I don't know why anyone would start eating it to begin with. :P

[iniQuity]

I actually just had some quinoa recently. I grew up in Peru but my family didn't really consume it (so it's not really a staple for all Peruvians, we lived close to Lima, so it's probably more for those that are closer to the source). I wanted to give it a go and I liked it, it doesn't seem to have much of a taste on its own - and I much prefer white rice if I'm looking for something like that, but I liked that it had some protein to go with it.