Quinoa: In Perspective of Global Challenges

Abstract

The global population is on the path of an increasing trajectory with a simultaneous decline in arable land resources through salinization and desertification that have resulted mainly from climate change and other anthropogenic activities. Rising temperatures will cause changes in the entire ecosystem, resulting in significant alterations in global climate paradigms and a threat to food security. This review focuses on how the highly resilient Chenopodium quinoa Willd. can sustainably mitigate some of the detrimental impacts, such as starvation, and support or provide ecosystem services. In comparison, compared with the traditional staple food crops, quinoa has remarkable tolerance to abiotic stresses and is highly nutritious, with a unique balance and higher amounts of nutrients, and can therefore be an important crop for food security and nutritional adequacy. This crop has the potential to ameliorate global challenges with respect to increase in global population, effects of climate change, desalinization, phytoremediation, satisfying nutrient deficiency, and alleviating poverty.

In vitro antioxidant and angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory properties of enzymatically hydrolyzed quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) proteins

“…Quinoa has a protein content range between 13.1% and 16.7%. These values are higher than those of rice, barley, corn, and rye, and close to that of wheat (Jaikishun, Li, Yang, & Song, 2019; Vilcacundo & Hernández‐Ledesma, 2017). In addition, quinoa protein has a balanced pattern of essential amino acids, standing out in lysine, methionine, and threonine that are the limiting amino acids in conventional cereals (Dini, Tenore, & Dini, 2005).…”

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and its relationship with agroclimatic characteristics: A Colombian perspective

“…A significant increase of the cropped area has been recorded during the recent years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019), mainly in Bolivia with increments from 35 690 to 64 789 ha -1 and Peru with 27 578 to 37 625 ha -1 . The principal importing countries of their harvests are USA (53%), Canada (15%), France (8%), Netherlands (4%), Germany (4%), Australia (3%) and UK (2%) (FAO-ALADI, 2014;Jaikishun et al, 2019).…”

Production of White, Red and Black Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd Var. Real) Protein Isolates and Its Hydrolysates in Germinated and Non-Germinated Quinoa Samples and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation

“…Quinoa seeds have a high nutritive value for the presence of phytocomponents. The seeds of quinoa are rich in lipids, carbohydrates, polyphenols, fiber and protein [1,2,3,4]. Protein content is around 12–16% depending on the variety.…”