Quinoa Breeding in Africa: History, Goals, and Progress

In developing countries, particularly in Africa, the introduction of quinoa into the diet has the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security. In recognition of its excellent nutritional properties and high adaptability, FAO selected quinoa as one of several promising crops with the potential to sustain food security in the next century. Quinoa was first introduced to Africa in the late 1990s in Kenya and recently in Malawi in 2012. The goal of the initial breeding experiments was to identify cultivars and varieties of quinoa that could grow well and yield grain for production and consumption by African communities. The ultimate goal of these experiments is to contribute to efforts in reducing malnutrition problems in Africa. Results of initial experiments in Malawi and Kenya have shown that quinoa can grow well under varying agroecological zones, from warmer to cooler areas.