From rice to quinoa
What if quinoa could form a building block in the transition pathway of creating a food system in the Mekong delta that is adapted to the impacts of climate change, creates foods security, livelihoods, and saves freshwater? Due to increased droughts and salinity producing traditional crops like rice is increasingly more challenging in the delta. Quinoa is relatively salt-tolerant.
At Wageningen University and Research, we created varieties that can deal with the Mekong delta conditions. This may free-up the use of scarce fresh water that could then be applied elsewhere. Our research does not only test technical feasibility of growing quinoa it in the delta by farmers. Instead we take a wider food system approach and look at various kinds of actors and factors that are needed to create a viable quinoa value chain. And we should see how this fits in transition pathways. Technical feasibility does not automatically mean that quinoa will be adopted widely in the Mekong. Such transition needs to be managed.
Watch the video below to learn more about how quinoa can be a salinity resilient solution for farmers in the Mekong Delta, and contribute to climate resilient, sustainable and healthy food system in Vietnam.
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