Global quinoa imports continue to grow, although not as fast as in the previous years. The latest trade data show that quinoa imports in the world reached a total of 75,208 tons in the year ending September 2016, which is 13% more than in the previous year (Figure 1). … Read more
Quinoa production in Bolivia may fall 50% in 2017, according to research conducted at Mercadero. This means that production will drop from 69,000 tons in 2016 to 35,000 tons. Three main factors are pointing to a lower harvest. First, farmers have become demotivated by the continuing low prices they receive for their crop. Second, the … Read more
By Freek Jan Koekoek At a well-attended meeting parallel to SIAL Paris in October, the Bolivian chia sector presented its vision to develop ‘clean chia.’ It also provided a production forecast. Bolivia has become one of the leading producers, along with Argentina and Paraguay, of this superfood rich in omega 3, which is experiencing a … Read more
Beans, lentils and other pulses are enjoying an increasing popularity as a vegetarian and healthy food.The International Year of the Pulses, which is now coming to an end, has given an additional boost to these products, which often go unnoticed in the market. Not anymore: new market information about the grains and pulses sector has … Read more
Mercadero will be present at SIAL 2016, supporting international companies in their trade fair participation at this food innovation exhibition. SIAL 2016 will take place from 16 – 20 October in Paris. We will be coaching clients from Indonesia and the Philippines. PT Yuasa Berkah Makmur from Indonesia and Cocoplus Aquarian Development Corporation and KF … Read more
Recent studies confirmed the theory that low glycemic food has certain health benefits as opposed to high glycemic food, but these insights are not yet generally accepted by health authorities. Low GI foods are less likely to cause large increases in blood sugar levels, and an effect on obesity and diabetes is widely recognized. Recently … Read more
On 16th of March 2016, Mercadero facilitated the annual peer group meeting on Spices and Herbs with the aim to gather up-to-date knowledge for market information, which will be published by the CBI later this year. During the meeting, business representatives, market researchers and representatives of sustainability initiatives discussed the latest trends and developments in … Read more
For the fourth year in a row, Mercadero facilitated the annual peer group meeting for Processed Fruit and Vegetables and Edible Nuts on April the 20th, in Amsterdam. During this well attended meeting, sector experts and business representatives identified important trends and developments in this sector. The input serves as the starting point for the production of … Read more
Few stories have dominated the public perception about a food item more persistently than the 2013 article in the Guardian titled: ‘Can Vegans Stomach the Unpalatable Truth about Quinoa.’ The Economist now takes on the claim that increasing demand by western ‘food fadsters’ is driving the population in Peru and Bolivia into poverty and undernourishment. … Read more
The article “The Global Expansion of Quinoa: Trends and Limits” published in Frontiers in Crop Science sketches the expansion of quinoa production, with a focus on the distribution of germ plasm. Based on a mini survey among experts, the authors Didier Bazile, Sven-Erik Jacobson and Alexis Verniau present interesting data on testing and breeding of … Read more