Why SA should jump on the quinoa bandwagon

Move over Superman and super mom; modern heroics are all about superfoods, and some come at a super price. Buying more blueberries, kale and broccoli might not break the bank but the cash needed for chai seeds and raw cacao would clothe a king. Soon that could change, at least when it comes to quinoa.

Some South African farmers have begun trials growing the grain and the department of agriculture is planning an official experimental process. If successful, the retail price, which currently sits at about R70/kg, will drop dramatically.

Quinoa is much in demand for its health benefits. It is a source of amino acids, magnesium, fibre and zinc, and is gluten-free. In 2013, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation named it crop of the year. But it was not always so loved.

Centuries ago, quinoa was shunned because it came to be associated with sorcery in the minds of some. The Spanish called it "Satan's food" because when they encountered it on invading South America, one of its uses was to be mixed with the blood of sacrifices offered to the gods. The colonisers ignored the fact that it formed part of the local staple diet and banned its production, instead focusing on potatoes and rice.

The resurrection of quinoa began with Bolivian independence in 1952, when small-scale farmers started growing it again, but it only flourished internationally when the health craze took over California. Quinoa was first exported to the US in 1984 and demand has grown ever since. In 2012, more than 56 000 tonnes were consumed. Bolivia provides almost half the global supply, with Peru and Ecuador the other substantial producers, but they cannot keep up.

The price has trebled in the last five years, with the result that farmers cannot afford to eat their own product. There is a pressing need for more suppliers, and everyone from Russia to South Africa wants to become one.

Zambia started growing quinoa in 2000 and Kenya has been at it since 1975. Quinoa is a relatively unfussy crop. It is hardy, grows at altitudes between sea level and 1 200m, and can withstand mild frost and temperatures up to 38°C. It needs dry weather when seeds are being produced and there are some varieties that attract birds, but it is the kind of crop that can be grown just about anywhere.

So what's taking South Africa so long?

Quinoa has yet to undergo a pest-risk analysis test - a requirement for every crop that is cultivated in South Africa, to assess what impact it will have on existing products and the environment. That means it cannot yet be farmed here. William Weeks of the North West department of agriculture is leading the campaign to speed up the process. Weeks also works with NuGrainSA, the consortium hoping to trial quinoa in South Africa, and is pushing to have the seeds cleared for cultivation as soon as possible.

"Quinoa is becoming a global crop and we don't know if we are geared to produce it here in South Africa," says Weeks. "We are going to have to speed up if we don't want to miss out. It is a dream of mine to see quinoa grown successfully here. It will not just be good for the local market, we can earn a lot of foreign revenue through it."

Others have already had the same idea. A producer in the Karoo has begun growing quinoa and expects to have results within a year. Although Weeks cannot say with certainty, he expects the North West has the right conditions to grow the grain.

"The western regions of South Africa could be suited to quinoa because they have a heavier soil," he says. "But we cannot rule out the east because the highest mountains are there. This is why we have to get growing. The sooner we can do tests, the sooner we will have these answers." And the sooner South Africa could cash in.

"The crop is here to stay," Weeks says. "The UN believes it can help alleviate malnutrition and that is something we in Africa should pay attention to. In terms of food security, quinoa could make a massive difference to people on this continent."