In Bolivia DO-IT participates in a project with the French company Markal and the Bolivian company QuinoaBol. The project is situated in the Altiplano highlands in southwest Bolivia. The main product is the quinoa grain.
Grano de oro
Quinoa is called grano de oro (golden grain) by the local people. The name not only refers to the shiny golden appearance of the seeds but also to the high nutritional values of calcium, protein and amino acids and other vitamins and minerals.
Authentic
In Bolivia most people originate from the indigenous inhabitants, Indians with a strong awareness of their own culture. A part of that culture is the knowledge of crops specifically suitable for cultivation in the highlands. Life is tough and there is the continuous temptation to grow coca leaves instead of quinoa.
Fair prices
Converting to organic is easy for traditional agriculture and the farmers get better prices than for conventional products. QuinoaBol is a Bolivian company and very aware of the people's demands. It has developed a strong relationship with the farmers and takes care of cleaning, drying and packing in an exclusively organic facility. Other crops like sesame, beans and nuts are available. The Fair Trading makes it possible for the Bolivians to keep their own culture and traditions alive.
