Bolivian President Evo Morales promotes quinoa at the Floriade in The Netherlands

Last week President Morales visited the World Horticultural Exhibition: Floriade in Venlo (The Netherlands). A perfect oppertunity to promote and get attention to the important Bolivian (growing) exportproduct Quinoa.

foto: Paul Muijzers

The NOS documented an interview with SP-leader mr. Emile Roemer and the Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, mr. Uri Rosenthal, who consultated president Morales about quinoa. Mr. Rosenthal told he and his family were favorite quinoa consumers:  http://nos.nl/audio/383236-president-bolivia-wilde-floriade-zien.html

President Morales is appointed Special Ambassador to FAO for the International Year of Quinoa, to be observed by the United Nations in 2013. Find the webpage of the FAO by following this link:
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/148887/icode/

"Quinoa is an ancestral legacy that has been cultivated for more than 7,000 years and is presented as a worthy alternative amid the current food crisis. It can achieve good yields and is very resistant to frost," Morales said, recalling his early days as a small-scale producer of quinoa in Orinoca, his birthplace. Among the properties credited to this cereal, Morales stressed the reduction of anemia and cholesterol, as well as its suitability for maintaining a balanced diet due to its high ratio of unsaturated fats.
Quinoa is the only plant food that has all the essential amino acids, trace elements and vitamins, and also has an extraordinary ability to adapt".

Studyvisit France

In the framework of my Nuffield study, last week I visited France to learn more about different aspects of quinoa (technical, economic and market aspects). Consuments in France seems to be much more known with quinoa and the quality of this super 'pasta-food'. But the oppertunities for marketgrow are still very big, spread the word I would say and lets make quinoa as common as rice or pasta!
I would like to thank the people of Abbottagra (www.abbottagra.com) for their big contribution of this successful studyvisit.

Nuffield Farming Scholarship

In 2012, I participate as a scholar in the Nuffield Farming Scholarship programm with my project: Dutch quinoa: The introduction of a new quinoa-chain in The Netherlands. Check de international website of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust: http://www.nuffieldinternational.org/.
In febr/march 2012, we started the study-year with a congres (CSC) in The Netherlands and UK (London), joined by all scholars (60) from 9 different countries.
If you have a facebook-account, you can also join the Nuffield group.