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Quinoa production has created a disequilibrium between the number of crops versus animals being

cultivated. Quinoa, traditionally only consisting of 10% of the agricultural ecosystem (Philpott 2013) is now

being increasingly expanded. As well as direct deforestation effects that are felt as land-uses are changed a

secondary effect is the displacement of llamas. Herds of llama are being sold or killed to make room for extra

quinoa plantations. Not only does this effect the equilibrium of crop to animal production ratios but severely

reduces access to llama manure, as ‘cameloid’s guano’ is the best fertiliser for maintaining field production.

The removal of this natural fertiliser also depletes soil quality for plant growth and can lead to the erosion of

areas (Lansdowne 2015).

The boom of production of this crop has also seen an increase in agricultural insects and pests. Due to

global warming insects have migrated to higher altitudes where quinoa is grown as changes in temperature

allow for more favourable conditions (Lansdowne 2015). Both the insecticides and agrochemicals used on

quinoa plantations are not only decimating these pests, but they are also destroying highly sensitive insects

which are necessary for the growing process such as bees and other pollinators (Lansdowne 2015).

Additionally, expansion of this crop has made necessary the technological advancement of agricultural

equipment used in these previously small-farmers crop planting, maintenance and harvesting methods to keep

up with increased demand. The industrial equipment required negatively impacts the environment as they

consume further fossil fuels and directly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which have knock on effects

for other aspects of the ecosystem (Lansdowne 2015).

One of the greatest problems to occur from the expansive empire which is the quinoa industry is the

soil degradation that has occurred to the landscapes because of the intensive and unsustainable nature of new

cropping mechanisms as well monoculture-land use. To cover costs and take advantage of the boom in

demand for quinoa exports farmers are expanding their lands; removing traditional sustainable agricultural

practices in the process and increasing the pressure on soil fertility. More than half of quinoa farmers in

Bolivia who have deeply analysed the soil of their farms say that it has reduced in quality now enduring

erosion and nutrient depletion (Cherfas 2016). More advanced agricultural methods have been introduced

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