Quinoa, once a staple food of only the indigenous people in the Andes, has become a darling of food aficionados around the world in recent years. So popular it has grown that even some fast food restaurant chains have now dishes and salads with it on their menus. Its exceptional nutritional composition makes it one of the healthiest grains and an upmarket offering. Quinoa is highly nutritious, gluten-free and rich in essential amino acids and vitamins.

At a time when major crops like wheat, rice, barley and corn are progressively failing to withstand soil and water salinity, heat and drought, quinoa looks like a perfect alternative in regions where these problems pose growing risks to agriculture and food security.

It offers more hope for the fight against hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Central Asia.