Conceptualizing the paradox surrounding the commodification of Andean quinoa.
| dc.contributor.author | McWilliams, Bailey. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2014-10-02T19:47:52Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2014-10-02T19:47:52Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2014 | |
| dc.description | In a world in which populations will only continue to grow, there is a pressing concern to find sustainable, nutritional and affordable food sources. The United Nations deemed 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa, establishing the ancient crop as a key solution to dwindling food security. It is believed that the Andean seed will contribute to food security and sovereignty due to its nutritional quality, genetic variability, low production cost, and adaptability to adverse climate and soil conditions. However, paradoxically, the increasing global demand for quinoa may actually sicken and impoverish the very communities that produce this super food. By using official government data and community case studies, I look at the quinoa paradox from two sides: the extent to which the seed has been managed at the community- and state-levels, and the effect that the growing international commodification of quinoa has had on the economy, environment and overall health of the Andean societies that produce it. Inspired by a series of news articles published earlier this year, this work aims to add depth and clarity to the complicated and multifaceted role that quinoa plays in the world today and what role our decisions as international consumers play in the welfare of those who produce our goods. | en_US |
| dc.description | Bibliography: leaves 119-125. | |
| dc.description.tableofcontents | A superfood destined to aid world food security -- Historical management of quinoa -- Conceptualizing the paradox -- The international year of quinoa : a future sown a thousand years ago -- Analyzing the success of the international year of quinoa. | |
| dc.identifier.other | W Thesis 1451 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11040/23867 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.) | en_US |
| dc.subject | Undergraduate research. | |
| dc.subject | Undergraduate thesis. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Andes -- Economic conditions. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Andes -- Social conditions. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Quinoa industry -- Andes -- History -- 21st century. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South America. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Consumption (Economics) -- Social aspects. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Sustainable agriculture -- Andes. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Food consumption. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | Nutrition. | |
| dc.subject.lcsh | International trade. | |
| dc.title | Conceptualizing the paradox surrounding the commodification of Andean quinoa. | en_US |
| dc.title.alternative | Paradox surrounding the commodifications of Andean quinoa. | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |