Today, the University will attempt to break the world record for creating the largest quinoa salad.
Quinoa is a grain found in both Peru and Bolivia and has gained mainstream recognition as a low-fat starch that serves as a healthy alternative to meat.
Due to its versatility and nutritional value, sales in quinoa have been on the rise, tripling since the year 2006. FIU may have seen the attention surrounding quinoa as a chance for the community to partake in some positive publicity, however, the University should have taken some factors into consideration before indulging in the quinoa hype.
As the sales of quinoa rapidly increase, so does the price as it pertains to the poor citizens of Peru and Bolivia. A staple in many Peruvian and Bolivian households, the prices of quinoa have risen to the point where Peru and Bolivia’s poorer citizens can no longer afford to buy the grain.
The result is imported junk food being cheaper than the quinoa grain.
In places like Lima, Peru the price of the grain has risen above that of chicken. As a result, government figures have indicated that domestic consumption of quinoa has dropped by a third within the last five years.
The exploitation of quinoa has resulted in other issues, such as land disputes among farmers and producers. Some farmers have even turned to violent means to obtain the land necessary to produce quinoa. These tensions increase as citizens of urban communities are now relocating to rural areas to grow and sell the quinoa grain.
Some argue that quinoa as a commodity can have a positive impact on the citizens of Peru and Bolivia.
Emma Banks for the Andean Information Network states that the commodity of the quinoa grain provides farmers with economic stability.
She also stated “This economic power has also translated into political power though producers’ associations and cooperatives.”
Although the University’s intentions for gaining publicity through this record-breaking event were harmless, the use of quinoa plays into this food trend without acknowledging the impact that the quinoa fad has had on countries like Peru and Bolivia.
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