International Year of Quinoa to strengthen income opportunities and nutritional security
New York, USA, 17 July 2012
The United Nations declared the year 2013 "The International Year of the Quinoa" (IYQ), after it was proposed by the government of Bolivia, with support from Argentina, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, and FAO.
Under the slogan “A future planted thousands of years ago”, the year gives recognition to the Andean indigenous peoples, who have maintained, controlled, protected and preserved quinoa as food for present and future generations thanks to their traditional knowledge and practices of living well in harmony with mother earth and nature.
"After so many years the United Nations recognizes this cereal as one of the most important foods for life. This recognition not only extols the nutritional value of quinoa as a healthy food but also the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples who, in harmony with nature, have maintained, controlled and preserved quinoa in its natural state as a source of food for present and future generations," said President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia Evo Morales.