Registration open for quinoa research symposium

Varieties of quinoa grow in plots at WSU's organic farm in Pullman. Photo by Brian Clark, WSU.
Varieties of quinoa grow in plots at WSU’s organic farm in Pullman. Photo by Brian Clark, WSU.

PULLMAN, Wash. – Online registration for the 2013 International Quinoa Research Symposium hosted at Washington State University Aug. 12-14 is now available through July 10.

Coinciding with the United Nations International Year of the Quinoa, the symposium brings together researchers, farmers, distributors and consumers from around the world to explore current research avenues and innovative farming practices. Farm tours will highlight field trial demonstrations on four Palouse farms. Keynote speaker Dr. Sven-Erick Jacobson from the University of Copenhagen will address the global potential of quinoa and Tania Santivanez from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization will also speak during the three-day event.

Quinoa has grown in popularity and is beginning to gain a foothold in the Pacific Northwest and other regions in the US with support from a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant recently awarded to researchers at WSU, Oregon State University and Utah State University. Earthbound Farm, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Clif Bar Family Foundation-Seed Matters, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, FAIR, and WSU are the event sponsors.

Registration is available online and open to the public at: http://bit.ly/14wmBDs. Space is limited. For registration fee, a schedule of events, lodging and transportation information, and more, please visit the International Quinoa Research Symposium website: http://bit.ly/19ib90R.