Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), cañihua (C. pallidicaule Aellen) and amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) are staple crops for millions of people in the Andes (NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 1989, HOLLE 1991, JACOBSEN et al. 2003). Their nutritional content (high quality proteins and good micronutrient profile), hardiness, good adaptability to environmental stresses, versatility in use, and rich associated food culture and traditions are among the reasons for their widespread use by the native civilizations of the Andes over millennia. The role of these species as a staple food has however dramatically changed in the last fifteen years due to their poor economic competitiveness with commodity cereal crops, lack of improved varieties or enhanced cultivation practices, drudgery in processing and value addition, disorganized or non-existent market chains as well as a negative image as “food ...