Search Results (83)

Andean grains, such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus), cañihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen), and tarwi (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet), represent a nutritional and cultural heritage of paramount importance to Peru; however, their regular consumption remains limited despite widespread recognition of their beneficial properties. This study analyzes consumer behavior toward Andean grains among Peruvian individuals, characterizing purchasing and consumption patterns, motivations, and barriers, and examining their associations with sociodemographic variables within the cultural context. We administered a structured cross-sectional survey to 1074 Peruvian consumers using non-probability convenience sampling. We used descriptive frequency analyses and chi-square tests with Cramer’s V to evaluate associations between sociodemographic and behavioral variables. Quinoa was the most consumed grain (79.3%), followed by kiwicha (47.0%), cañihua (31.1%), and tarwi (7.9%). Most purchases and consumption practices were occasional (47.0% and 42.6%, respectively), with raw grain for home cooking being the dominant presentation (47.3%) and the local market being the main purchasing channel (36.4%). The main motives for buying were the nutritional properties (63.6%) and the product’s natural character (46.2%), whereas cultural identity was a relevant secondary motive (21.8%). The most frequent barriers were high price (30.7%), lack of knowledge about preparation (26.9%), and lack of time (21.4%), which together accounted for 79.0% of the responses. Chi-square analyses revealed that cultural background showed the most consistent sociodemographic associations, with significant associations ranging from small to moderate (V = 0.099–0.169). Consumers from the traditional Andean context showed higher purchase frequency (37.3%) and greater use of alternative channels (26.1%) than those from the urban-coastal context, while in the latter, lack of time was the leading barrier (27.3%), tied with price. These findings reveal a pattern consistent with the gap between the positive valuation of these foods and their regular inclusion in the diet, and highlight the need for multidimensional interventions that address economic, cognitive, and time barriers to expand regular Andean grain consumption among Peruvian consumers, particularly in young urban segments. Full article

Vegetation-based slope stabilization is commonly evaluated from the final factor of safety, which can obscure whether an apparently favorable response reflects intrinsic slope resistance or the incremental effect of the vegetation treatment. This study tests whether the factor hierarchy associated with absolute stability differs from that associated with vegetation-induced stabilization and whether this distinction is preserved across limit equilibrium and finite element formulations. Seven fine-grained Andean soil classes, four vegetation systems, three slope geometries, and baseline and surcharge conditions were evaluated using laboratory-derived equivalent Mohr–Coulomb parameters. Each vegetated scenario was paired with an otherwise identical bare-soil reference, and the balanced numerical design was decomposed into factor and interaction contributions to variation across the investigated design space. Within the validated limit equilibrium domain, soil and geometry represented 72.1% and 26.6% of absolute stability variation, whereas species and soil × species represented 11.8% and 10.5% of relative vegetation-induced variation after normalization. Across 210 paired cases, agreement between methods was strong for absolute stability (r = 0.88; concordance coefficient = 0.83), but markedly weaker for vegetation-induced benefit. The results demonstrate a transferable distinction between the factors associated with system stability and those associated with intervention effectiveness. For engineering and restoration practice, plant selection should therefore follow site characterization and treatment-level numerical assessment, rather than a universal species ranking. Full article

Slope stability in vegetated hillslopes depends on groundwater, geometry, external loading, soil properties, and root reinforcement. This study evaluated a low-plasticity clayey silt (CL–ML) from Loja, Ecuador, under bare soil, Eucalyptus, Pine, Vetiver, and Kikuyu covers. Direct shear tests on root-containing specimens provided equivalent Mohr–Coulomb parameters for limit-equilibrium and PLAXIS 2D strength-reduction analyses considering three slope geometries and three loading conditions: elevated groundwater, groundwater plus an 8 kN m⁻² surcharge, and groundwater, surcharge, and pseudo-static loading. The resulting 90 factor-of-safety values were assessed using scenario-based factorial ANOVA and MANOVA. Geometry and loading explained 41.4% and 35.0% of total variance, respectively, whereas numerical method explained 1.1%. Limit-equilibrium factors of safety were 5.4% higher on average than PLAXIS 2D values. The vegetation-cover main effect was small and marginal (η² = 1.5%, p = 0.051), while significant cover–loading and cover–method interactions indicated a scenario- and method-dependent response. Under pseudo-static loading, Vetiver and Kikuyu showed the highest PLAXIS 2D factors of safety, whereas LEM results remained narrowly grouped, precluding a general ranking of vegetation effectiveness. These findings support scenario-specific evaluation of equivalent root reinforcement in slope-stabilization design. Full article

Legumes represent a sustainable alternative for the production of nutritious foods, contributing to agroecosystem resilience, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. Nonetheless, the productivity and nutritional quality of legumes are strongly influenced by environmental factors. These environmental conditions, together with crop management practices, explain a large proportion of the variability observed in chemical composition, highlighting the importance of genotype × environment interactions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of contrasting environments on the protein, fat, and quinolizidine alkaloid contents of Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) seeds. Six genotypes of different origins and alkaloid contents were studied. The genotypes were evaluated across five contrasting field and greenhouse environments using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Chemical analyses of the legume grain were carried out in the Nutrition and Quality laboratory at INIAP’s Santa Catalina Experimental Station (INIAP-EESC). The results of the study indicate that the protein content was affected primarily by the environment, followed by the genotype × environment interaction and, to a lesser extent, by genotype. Fat content was similarly influenced by both genotype and environmental conditions, whereas total alkaloid content was predominantly controlled by genotype, which explained approximately 90.7% of the observed variation. Protein content ranged from 49.9 to 56.8 g 100 g⁻¹ DW across environments, while fat content varied between 14.0 and 18.3 g 100 g⁻¹ DW. Among the evaluated genotypes, AndxPro1 exhibited the highest average protein content (54.96 g 100 g⁻¹ DW), whereas LmPro17 combined the highest fat content (19.78 g 100 g⁻¹ DW) with the lowest total alkaloid concentration (0.13 g 100 g⁻¹ DW). Protein content showed high sensitivity to environmental conditions, whereas alkaloid accumulation exhibited strong genetic control and comparatively limited environmental influence. These findings suggest the importance of conducting evaluations of the different varieties of L. mutabilis in different environments to support breeding programs aimed at improving seed quality. Full article

This study evaluated the dose-dependent effects of a nodule-associated bacterial isolate subsequently identified by whole-genome sequencing as Kosakonia cowanii on nodulation, nitrogen status, growth, phenology, and yield components of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Centenario) under greenhouse conditions in northern Ecuador. A randomized complete block design with five treatments and three replicates was used, including three inoculation doses (6 × 10⁹, 6 × 10^4.5 and 6 × 10^2.25 CFU mL⁻¹), a non-inoculated control and a nitrogen-fertilized control. Significant differences were detected for plant height, SPAD index, phenological development, nodulation and 100 seed weight. The lowest inoculation dose (T3) produced the strongest biological response, reaching 227.67 nodules plant⁻¹, approximately 6.5 times more than the non-fertilized control, and the highest SPAD value at 60 days after sowing (41.16), exceeding both the non-fertilized control (26.84) and the nitrogen-fertilized treatment (33.14). T3 also achieved the greatest plant height (80.31 cm) and accelerated flowering and pod formation by up to two days compared with higher inoculation doses. Although grain yield did not differ significantly among treatments because of high experimental variability and limited statistical power, inoculated plants maintained yields comparable to the nitrogen-fertilized control while improving seed filling. Whole genome sequencing confirmed the identity of the dominant genome as K. cowanii (ANI = 96.73%; completeness = 99.03%; contamination = 0.63%), supporting the interpretation that this bacterium acts primarily as a plant growth-promoting and nodule-associated bacterium rather than a classical nitrogen-fixing symbiont. These findings highlight the potential of native K. cowanii as a component of sustainable biofertilization strategies for Andean bean production systems. Full article

Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) is an Andean pseudocereal with a nutritional profile characterized by its protein, dietary fiber, and bioactive compound content, adequate balance of essential amino acids, and the presence of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiometabolic properties. This review analyzes the main processing methods applied to amaranth, including milling, roasting, popping, rolling, extrusion, germination, fermentation, encapsulation, and component isolation, describing how these technologies modify its nutritional, functional, and technological properties. It also examines its applications in various food categories, such as baked goods, extruded snacks, fermented beverages, symbiotic foods, and gluten-free formulations, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient for developing functional foods and nutraceuticals. Furthermore, this study discusses the technological and industrial challenges associated with its processing, including structural, sensory, and scalability limitations, within the context of the growing global demand for healthy and sustainable foods. Finally, the study identifies knowledge gaps and research priorities to optimize processing conditions, improve sensory acceptability, and enhance industrial value, thereby supporting further evaluation of its integration into food production systems. Full article

Lupinus is recognized as a nutrient-dense legume rich in protein, raw fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids, contributing significantly to human nutrition and health. In Ecuador, the Andean Crops and Plant Genetic Resources program of INIAP maintains a germplasm bank comprising 257 uncharacterized accessions. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical composition of ten promising sweet Lupin genotypes (L. mutabilis) exhibiting good agronomic characteristics, resistance and/or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, superior grain quality and significantly reduced seed alkaloid content in experimental trails. These genotypes were compared with two accessions of L. albus and L. angustifolius used as control genotypes. Except for carbohydrate content, L. mutabilis genotypes exhibited similar or superior nutritional profiles compared to genotype controls with high protein (44.7%), fat (19.91%), and ash (4.16%) contents and reduced alkaloid concentrations, notably, two genotypes LmAnds16 and LmFRs43 with 0.04%. However, it exhibited the highest polyphenol (8.84 mg·g⁻¹) and flavonoid (0.67 mg·g⁻¹) concentrations and antioxidant activity for ABTS (19.94 µmol TE·g⁻¹) and FRAP (300.30 µmol TE·g⁻¹) on a dry weight basis (DW). These results are important for the generation of new varieties of Lupinus focused on its nutritional quality and to produce nutraceutical and functional foods. Full article

This study examines the relationship between health consciousness, the components of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and self-identity, as well as consumers’ willingness to pay more for Andean grains, which are recognised for their nutritional benefits and contribution to sustainable food systems. The study was conducted with 600 young university students living in Lima, Peru. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the findings revealed a positive association between health consciousness and attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and self-identity related to healthy food consumption. Of the TPB components, self-identity was found to be the strongest predictor of willingness to pay more for Andean grains, followed by perceived behavioural control; attitude and subjective norms, however, showed no significant effect. These results suggest that the willingness to pay for sustainable heritage foods is driven more by identity-based motivations and perceived access conditions than by favourable evaluations or social pressure alone. The study extends the TPB by incorporating health consciousness as an antecedent variable and by highlighting the prominent role of self-identity in sustainable food choices within the context of an emerging economy. Furthermore, the findings provide practical insights for designing marketing strategies and public policies aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable food consumption. Full article

Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) production is increasingly affected by climatic factors, as well as by phytopathogens and abiotic stress, leading to delays in agronomic interventions and reduced productivity. The objective was to design, implement, and validate a multimodal system (CARYPAR) that enables early disease detection and agile decision-making, characterized by low latency and reduced dependence on cloud connectivity. The methodology integrates climate reanalysis from NASA POWER, biophysical remote sensing variables derived from Sentinel-1/2, and proximal computer vision captured via mobile devices using a late fusion architecture and an optimized convolutional neural network, EfficientNet-V2B0, which discriminates between optimal and pathological conditions in vegetative tissues and fruit. The results of the experimental validation carried out in 160 georeferenced units achieved an overall accuracy of 80.0% and an F1 score of 0.8645 for Bad Fruit. The McNemar test and the operational agreement with agro-industrial experts yielded a Cohen’s Kappa index of κ = 0.6831, with an inference latency reduced to 22.00 ms. It is concluded that the multimodal integration of satellite bio-environmental data with edge computer vision achieves substantial agreement with agronomic expert judgment under heterogeneous field conditions (Cohen’s κ = 0.6831), supporting its role as a decision-support tool rather than a replacement for expert assessment. Therefore, its adoption can enhance real-time irrigation management and crop protection, while contributing to traceability and sustainable resource management in agricultural regions with limited connectivity. Full article

Quinoa is a highly nutritious Andean crop with considerable yield potential that remains underexploited in southern Ecuador. This study evaluated the effects of planting method (row seeding, hill seeding, and transplanting) and plant density (8–20 plants m⁻²) on quinoa growth and yield under Andean highland conditions. A factorial field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Plant density significantly affected grain yield, increasing from 4.4 to 4.8 t ha⁻¹ at 8 plants m⁻² to a maximum of 6.97 t ha⁻¹ at 20 plants m⁻². This increase was mainly driven by a higher grain number per unit area, while thousand-grain weight remained stable across treatments. In contrast, the planting method and its interaction with plant density had no significant effect on yield or yield components. Grain yield showed a strong positive relationship with above-ground biomass, indicating that biomass accumulation was the main driver of yield variation. These results demonstrate that plant density is the primary agronomic factor controlling quinoa productivity under Andean conditions. Optimizing plant density to 15–20 plants m⁻² is recommended as a simple and cost-effective management strategy to maximize grain yield, regardless of planting method. Full article

The agricultural sector is undergoing a profound digital transformation driven by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, remote sensing, robotics, blockchain, and edge computing, which are being integrated into crop monitoring, irrigation management, disease detection, and supply chain transparency systems. This study employs systematic evidence mapping to characterize the applications of emerging digital technologies in sustainable agriculture; it delineates technological trajectories, areas of application, implementation gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 reporting protocol, 101 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science (2020–2025) were identified, screened, and subjected to integrated thematic and bibliometric synthesis, using RStudio Version: 2026.01.1+403 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 for data mining on keywords and technological evolution patterns. Results show that deep learning and computer vision models achieved diagnostic accuracies of 90–99%, smart irrigation systems reduced water consumption by 10–30%, predictive yield models frequently reported R² values above 0.80, and greenhouse automation reduced energy consumption by approximately 20–30%. Blockchain-based architectures improved traceability and secure data transmission by 15–20%, while remote sensing integration enhanced spatial estimation accuracy up to R² = 0.92. The findings demonstrate a measurable transition toward data-driven, resource-efficient agricultural ecosystems supported by validated digital architectures. However, interoperability limitations, lack of standardized performance metrics, scalability challenges, and uneven geographical implementation—identified in nearly 40% of studies—highlight the need for harmonized evaluation frameworks, cross-platform integration standards, and long-term field validation to ensure sustainable and scalable digital transformation. Full article

Quinoa is an Andean crop with wide genetic variability, including the capacity to adapt to various environmental conditions, which is essential for improving its yield and quality. The present work sought to characterize and agromorphologically evaluate 27 accessions of quinoa and the commercial cultivar ‘Salcedo INIA’ (SAL) for 28 qualitative and 25 quantitative variables. The results show that, on average, maturity occurred at 120 days after sowing (DAS), with a range of 105 DAS (ACC 50) to 132 DAS (ACC 35, ACC 37, ACC 43 and SAL). Grain diameter varied between 2.39 and 1.92 mm, with ACC 29 and the SAL control having the largest seed. The percentage of saponin varied between 0.210 and 0.089%, with ACC 43 having the lowest percentage. The severity of mildew infection varied between 17.22% and 1.22%, with ACC 50 being the most resistant genotype. Grain yield ranged from 5.60 (ACC 33) to 2.44 (ACC 42) t ha⁻¹. Genotypes ACC 29 and ACC 50 had the highest selection index (SI) values, at 1.10 and 1.01, respectively, being notable for their earliness, short stature, low saponin content, and seed productivity. Full article

Desertification is one of the main threats to high Andean ecosystems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions subject to increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluated the spatial-temporal dynamics of desertification in the province of Candarave (Tacna, Peru) by integrating the Remote Sensing-based Desertification Index (RSDI), constructed from a principal component analysis incorporating four biophysical indicators: vegetation greenness, surface moisture, soil grain size, and fraction of solar radiation reflected (albedo), derived from Landsat 5 and 8 satellite images processed in Google Earth Engine. Temporal trends were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test, while system stability was evaluated using the coefficient of variation, allowing different degrees of stability and environmental degradation to be characterized during the period 2010–2025. The results show that moderate and severe desertification classes predominate in higher altitude areas, covering approximately 92% of the study area, and are characterized by insignificant to weakly significant negative trends associated with high to relatively high temporal volatility. In contrast, stable areas with no significant changes represent 5.3% of the territory, while restoration processes occupy a small proportion, close to 2.7%. The high variability observed in the high Andean sectors is mainly linked to the interaction between reduced water availability, climate variability, and extreme events, as well as anthropogenic pressures, particularly overgrazing and aquifer exploitation. This multitemporal analysis allows us to anticipate the evolution of desertification and highlights the need to strengthen conservation planning in order to reduce the degradation of strategic high Andean ecosystems in the Tacna region. Full article

The transformation of Andean grains and tubers through fermentation and bioencapsulation has emerged as a key strategy to enhance their nutritional, functional, and biotechnological value, driven by advances in proteomic and metabolomic techniques. This study aimed to systematize recent evidence on the biochemical and functional modifications induced by these processes and their potential application in the development of functional foods. The methodology integrated 67 studies analyzed using tools such as R 4.5.1 with the JupyterLab interface 4.5.2, SCImago Graphica Beta 1.0.53, and VOSviewer 1.6.20, incorporating data generated through LC-MS/MS, UHPLC-QTOF, Orbitrap platforms, transcriptomics, and combined omics approaches, considering original studies published between 2020 and 2025. The main findings indicate substantial increases in free amino acids (up to 64.8%), phenolic compounds (2.9–5.2%), and antioxidant activity (up to 45%), along with the identification of 430 polyphenols, 90 flavonoids, 14 novel oxindole acetates, and bioactive peptides with IC50 values ranging from 0.51 to 0.78 mg/mL. Bioencapsulation showed controlled release of bioactive compounds, highlighting nanocapsules of 133–165 nm with a maximum release of 9.86 mg GAE/g. In conclusion, the combination of fermentation and encapsulation enhances the stability, bioavailability, and functionality of Andean crops, supporting their industrial adoption for the development of sustainable nutraceutical foods that improve health and promote the valorization of traditional resources. Full article

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) sustains global caloric intake, but its productivity in Andean highlands is constrained by soil fertility and input reliance. This study represents one of the first field-based evaluations of biofertilizers under high-altitude, rainfed Andean conditions, addressing a major knowledge gap in low-input mountain agroecosystems. This study evaluated three seed-applied biofertilizers—Azospirillum brasilense, Trichoderma viride (Trichomax), and an anchovy (Engraulis ringens) based liquid biofertilizer, compared with an untreated control and a soil-test mineral fertilization benchmark in rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. INIA 405 in the central Andes of Peru. A 5 × 5 Latin square design (25 plots) was established under farmer-realistic conditions. At physiological maturity (Zadoks 9.5), plant height, spike length, grains per spike, thousand-grain weight, test weight, root dry mass, and grain yield were recorded. Mineral fertilization achieved the highest yield (1.20 ± 0.79 t ha⁻¹), nearly doubling the control (0.60 ± 0.47 t ha⁻¹). Notably, A. brasilense delivered an intermediate yield of 0.90 ± 0.64 t ha⁻¹, representing a 50% increase over the control—accompanied by a marked rise in root dry mass. T. viride and the anchovy-based input yielded 0.85 ± 0.59 and 0.81 ± 0.59 t ha⁻¹, respectively. Grain physical quality remained stable across treatments (thousand-grain weight ≈ 42 g; test weight 68–75 kg hL⁻¹). Trait responses were complementary: root dry mass increased with mineral fertilization and A. brasilense, whereas spike length increased with mineral fertilization and the anchovy-based input. Overall, the evidence supports biofertilizers, particularly A. brasilense, as effective complements that enable partial fertilizer substitution within integrated nutrient-management strategies for sustainable wheat production in Andean rainfed systems. Full article