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Western media has often questioned the consequences of increased popularity of quinoa including

welfare concerns for individuals and households in places where quinoa had traditionally been produced and

consumed. Many outlets, however, have ignored the potential environmental impacts of an increased demand

from consumers which will lead to more competition between farmers and intensified production. In addition,

this can harm the health of the soil and in turn, the biodiversity of the Andean area as well as the stability of

local economies.

The exponential rise in demand for quinoa in recent years has caused a corresponding growth in the

price of quinoa on international markets. On first examination, this should be beneficial for local Andean

producers. Higher international export prices result in a more competitive market price for quinoa, causing an

increase of capital for the peasant farmers who traditionally grow the crop. Unfortunately, the economics of

the situation are slightly more complex. While this initial spike in income does occur, this has a multi-faceted

impact upon the livelihoods of these farmers.

One widely-reported negative side effect of quinoa’s global boom has been the cost-squeeze on

Andean farmers, forcing them to make alternative dietary choices. In Peru, price received per ton increased by

more than 130% in the five years from 2012 – 2017 (FAOSTAT 2018), and this skyrocketing price generated

a global concern that issues of malnutrition in the Andes might be exacerbated by the unaffordability of this

nutritious crop (Blythman 2013). More recent studies, however, have found that the decline in quinoa

consumption in the Andes does not correlate with the changes in price, suggesting that these changes in

consumption patterns are as much to do with consumer preferences as economic reasoning (The Economist

2016). Furthermore, a 2016 study published by the International Trade Centre (ITC) found that higher quinoa

prices could be directly correlated to better quality of life in rural quinoa-producing communities, because of

the greater cash flow introduced to the region (ITC 2016).

Unfortunately, these positive impacts can be problematic in and of themselves, as they often lead to an

overdependence on the crop. Often in areas where this occurs, local farmers will focus on cultivating quinoa,

to the exception of all other crops. In the short-term, this makes sound economic sense, as quinoa is the most

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