Conflict quinoa

Posted By Joshua Keating Monday, March 5, 2012 - 11:46 AM Share

Via Tyler Cowen's excellent new food-only Twitter feed, an AP story of economic scarcity, climate change, conflict, and the favorite superfood of American yuppies: 

Bolivian authorities say at least 30 people have been injured in a fight between two communities over land for growing quinoa, the Andean "supergrain" whose popularity with worldwide foodies has caused its price to soar.

Oruro state police chief Ramon Sepulveda says combatants used rocks and dynamite against each other Wednesday and Thursday. A government commission was dispatched to the two high plains communities south of La Paz.

Farmland in the region is owned not by individuals but communities.

Authorities say the dispute is related to climate change because quinoa can now be cultivated in areas previously subject to frequents frosts. Bolivia produces 46 percent of the world's quinoa, which has nearly tripled in price in the past five years.


Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/02/4306541/bolivians-fight-over-quinoa-land.html#storylink=cpy

For the "How Food Explains the World" package for the last May/June issue, I looked at how quinoa's international popularity has effected eating habits in Bolivia. Prices have skyrocketed thanks to export demand and domestic consumption of the nutritious grain has fallen by more than a third, prompting fears of an obesity epidemic as Bolivians switch to rice and white bread. President Evo Morales' government subsidizes quinoa as a "strategic foodstuff."

 

 

ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:THUMBS, SOUTH AMERICA, FOOD/AGRICULTURE
 

JUNAID RAZA

12:57 PM ET

March 6, 2012

good

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I think it has to do with whether it's mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as forbidden. Corn, for example, is prohibited, and I seem to recall that it has to do with the possibility of fermentation (conceivably for corn liquor, although that's not how it's put). I believe peas are another no-no. I'm sure there's a web site which would tell us more, but I'm not interested enough to search for it.

The problem with quinoa is since it's not mentioned in the Bible, and it's growing in popularity, someone has to make a ruling. Some rabbis obviously have and are in favor of it (and there's kosher for Passover - different from just kosher - quinoa being sold), but since Judaism doesn't have a single head authority like the Pope, the fact that Rabbi A approves doesn't mean anything except to followers of Rabbi A.

The whole thing reminded me of a similar brouhaha a couple of years ago when it was discovered that New York City's water had microscopic animals in it - tiny little crustaceans, IIRC - and a ruling was needed as to whether Jews could drink the water (NYC's water is among the best in the country, BTW, and I suspect most or all water systems are similarly "infested"). I don't remember how that one was resolved, but it does illustrate how silly religion can get when it really tries.

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MAXIMB

1:07 PM ET

March 19, 2012

Unfortunately today we think

Unfortunately today we think that working in Washington equals experience and it does. The question really isn't whether Senator McCain has "experience" the question is whether he uses his experience and makes good decisions. That is where Senator Obama starts to make sense. Of course Senator Obama has less "experience" (time in Washington) but he has judgement-a skill Senator McCain lacks. If you love the war in Iraq-vote McCain-his "experience" will keep us there for (according to him) maybe 100 years..

"Is rio orange war always forfait b and you inevitable ?"
MaximB

 

MAXIMB

8:29 AM ET

March 22, 2012

I think you are on to

I think you are on to something. I think everyone in the country should boycott voting in the upcoming elections because they are all criminals. The system needs a huge reform. The problem is, only the criminals (aka politicians) have the power to do so. So we need to take the power back!.

"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait bloque inevitable ?"
MaximB

 

MAXIMB

10:34 PM ET

March 22, 2012

Our President will now

Our President will now sympathize with the anti-American, anti-Israel leaders and permit the nuclear programs of such countries to get out of control..

"Is rio orange war always comparateur forfait mobile inevitable ?"
MaximB

 

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