Quinoa Farming in Chile

Quinoa Farming in Chile – Family Farming Dynamics and Perspectives

Most of the quinoa available on the shelves in Chile is usually imported from Peru or Bolivia. But we know there are viable areas for quinoa farming in Chile, so we´re glad to learn about a recent event organized by the Universidad Catolica of Valparaíso, under the framework of the FIC project: “Innovative Technologies for Rainfed Cultivation of Quinoa” and funded by the O’Higgins region government. The event organized the quinoa producers in O’Higgins and created COOPROQUINUA, the first cooperative of its kind in Chile.

Public policies support family farming and strategies to supply and develop the local market, and to penetrate and compete internationally. These policies and available resources were some of the topics discussed by the many Chile ministries and international experts present at the conference- including representatives from FAO, UC/Valpo, ODEPA, UNAF, INDAP, and other Chilean ministries. The two days of meeting included discussions and shared experiences on the subject “Quinoa Farming – Family Farming Dynamics and Perspectives”.

The purpose of the meetings was to share and debate between parties in the productive, academic, scientific and institutional interests. To bring together those experienced in innovation and development of family farming of rainfed (“secano”= dry) quinoa production. Seminar attendees met and discussed research as a tool for family agriculture, national policies, and international experiences to foster innovation, marketing strategies, and to strengthen farmers’ organizations. Notably, French experts Didier Bazile and Eduardo Chia spoke about using research to enhance production and innovation in family farming.

The regions of O’Higgins, Araucanía, and Tarapaca (far north) are the three recognized quinoa growing areas in the country. But the O’Higgins region has the comparative advantage in climate and conditions over the other two, as it is the only existing ecotype at sea level and having high adaptability to water scarcity and rainfed farming. Therefore, the coastal dry area has the greatest potential in growing quinoa in Chile and developing new, unique varieties. Therefore, UC/Valpo presented the project in Pichilemu (coastal city in O’Higgins region).

Thanks to this project it was possible to formally establish the First Quinoa Producers Cooperative of Coastal Rainfed in the O’Higgins Region (COOPROQUINUA), allowing them to organize the area´s quinoa producers for more fair and efficient access to the market, as well as public funds available for agricultural businesses.

Their new site is up, but is still a work in progress. Soon, they will release of manual of best practices and many other features. If you´re interested, then connect with them, and check back regularly. Some of their GIS maps are already up and quite useful to help you understand the locations and climates where quinoa farming in Chile is most viable.  And here´s a seperate link to a 2012 study exploring Chile´s quinoa diversity and nutritional value.

-Dan Duke     dan@ChileProperty.com      www.ChileProperty.com

Conference on Quinoa Farming in Chile