As a kid, Cedric Habiyaremye used to go hungry living in a refugee camp. Now, he's an aspiring plant scientist hoping to bring nutrient-rich crops to his country.
Hardier than corn, this ancient grain has a subtle, nutty flavor and is full of nutrients. But for most Americans, amaranth is still obscure. Researchers in Tennessee hope to change that.
Headlines once warned the global quinoa boom was putting the nutritious crop out of the reach of those who grow it. New studies put those fears to rest. But bad news may loom for Andean farmers.
A new, highly automated restaurant in San Francisco looks to speed up service through efficiency. You won't see any people taking your order or serving you at Eatsa, a fast-casual quinoa eatery.
General Mills helped define the industrial era of American breakfasting with its ringlets of processed oats. Soon, it'll put out a version with "ancient grains," which aren't, actually, very ancient.
At a "quinoa summit" this week, farmers from around the world are trading tips on how to turn this ancient Andean grain into a large-scale crop. Some Andean farmers who currently grow quinoa are asking, "What happens to us?"