Local quinoa project (project plan)

Local Quinoa Project Sustain 3S03, 2014

PROJECT PLAN Local Quinoa Project Crystal Chan, Kimberly Dowell, Ana-Maria Qarri, Julia Redmond, Michael Spencer

Overview* In the last few years, the global demand for quinoa has soared due to its new-found establishment as a super-food. Since the bulk supply of quinoa originates from South America, this high demand has created various sustainability issues, namely, the environmental impacts associated with shipping quinoa around the globe and the economic impacts associated with the price increase in tandem with the demand (Romero & Sharihari, 2011). The socio-economic dimension of quinoa production has been affected, with many quinoa farmers exploited for cheap labour to help drive market prices down, resulting in an unaffordable crop for those who depend on quinoa as a staple food (Blythman, 2013).

The project’s purpose is to research and develop methods of harvesting and processing quinoa locally and raise awareness about the sustainability issues of commercial quinoa production. The initiative will take place on a small-scale farm, with an aim towards scaling up for larger farms. This project will help demystify issues surrounding quinoa by sharing our findings with farmers, business owners and consumers in the area. By informing others in the community about the appropriate infrastructure and techniques required to grow quinoa locally, we hope to combat the environmental, social and economic issues associated with commercial quinoa production.

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Local Quinoa Project Sustain 3S03, 2014

1. Objectives* The key objectives of this project are: ● Effectively harvest the grown quinoa at The Common Ground Teaching Farm ● Identify the most efficient method to process and dry the quinoa after it has been harvested ● Determine how to upscale the harvesting and processing of the quinoa for larger yields in future growing seasons ● Raise awareness to consumers, business owners and farmers about growing quinoa in Ontario and the socio-economic benefits to producing quinoa locally 2.

Deliverables Course-specific deliverables: ● Project Plan ● Final Report Page Project-specific deliverables: Objective 1: Harvesting Quinoa ● Harvest quinoa at the Common Ground Teaching Farm ● Transport quinoa from farm for testing ● Store quinoa after harvest ● Report on different processing and drying methods tested Objective 2: Processing Quinoa ● Remove saponin from quinoa in an efficient and effective manner ● Dry quinoa using a variety of drying methods to determine best method ● Store dried and processed quinoa ● Have a consultation meeting with community project champion to update them on progress Objective 3: Researching Quinoa ● Measure time it takes to harvest, dry and process quinoa ● Use analyzed and measured data to create a report about results ● Determine how long it will take and what is needed to scale up quinoa production at The Common Ground Teaching Farm ● Consultation meeting to discuss findings with community project champion Objective 4: Marketing Quinoa ● Create informational brochure for quinoa consumers ● Contact community grocers who are interested in selling quinoa from The Common Ground Teaching Farm ● Establish price for selling quinoa on the local market ● Create a logo and a product template that can be used to sell and market quinoa in local markets

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3.

Scope The scope of the project includes and excludes the following items: In Scope This project includes: Objective 1: Harvesting Quinoa ● Who: Michael Mikulak and farming staff, Local Quinoa Project Team (us) ● What: Quinoa off the stalks ● Where: The Common Ground Teaching Farm ● When: September to October 2014 Objective 2: Processing Quinoa ● Who: Michael Mikulak and farming staff, Local Quinoa Project Team (us) ● What: Processed and dried quinoa, drying apparatus ● Where: The Common Ground Teaching Farm, Local Quinoa Project Team members’ households ● When: September to October 2014 Objective 3: Researching Quinoa ● Who: Michael Mikulak, Local Quinoa Project Team (us) ● What: Processed quinoa ● Where: McMaster University ● When: September to November 2014 Objective 4: Marketing Quinoa ● Who: Local Quinoa Project Team (us), community grocers, farmers in Southern Ontario, consumers interested in local quinoa ● What: Quinoa, brochures about quinoa, potential logo and packaging template ● Where: McMaster University, community grocery stores in Hamilton ● When: October to December 2014 Out of Scope This project does not include: Objective 1: Harvesting Quinoa ● Who: Non-Common Ground Teaching Farm farmers, anyone other than the Local Quinoa Project Team ● What: Processed quinoa, non-quinoa grains ● Where: Anywhere other than The Common Ground Teaching Farm ● When: Prior to September and after October 2014 Objective 2: Processing Quinoa ● Who: Non-Common Ground Teaching Farm farmers, anyone other than the Local Quinoa Project Team ● What: Non-quinoa grains

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● Where: Anywhere outside of The Common Ground Teaching Farm or the Local Quinoa Project Teams’ households ● When: Prior to September and after October 2014 Objective 3: Researching Quinoa ● Who: Anyone other than the Local Quinoa Project Team ● What: Non-quinoa grains ● Where: Non-McMaster University areas ● When: Prior to September 2014 and after November 2014 Objective 4: Marketing Quinoa ● Who: Big-box grocery stores, non-consumers of quinoa, farmers not in Southern Ontario ● What: Non-quinoa grains, non-informational brochures ● Where: Outside of Hamilton ● When: Prior to October and after December 2014 4.

Timeline

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5.

Roles & Responsibilities List of responsibilities: ● Research Harvesting Techniques ▪ Identify literature and research papers regarding quinoa growing in climates similar to Southern Ontario ▪ Contact current quinoa growers in Southern Ontario ● Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Separate and organize quinoa ▪ Put the processed quinoa in different bulk containers for measurement ▪ Dry quinoa on tarp and mesh window screens so processing will be easy ▪ Process the quinoa that is still on its stalks and separate it from the plant ▪ Process the quinoa that is dried to ensure it is free of plant debris ● Information Brochure (2 people) ▪ Identify ways consumers can help combat the issues surrounding quinoa production in information brochure ▪ Address the socio-economic problems associated with quinoa production ▪ Edit the content of the information brochure ● Marketing ▪ Create potential logo design ▪ Create potential packaging ● Contact potential community suppliers

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Role Student A

Who Ana-Maria Qarri

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Student B

Crystal Chan

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Student C

Julia Redmond

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Student D

Kimberly Dowell

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Student E

Michael Spencer

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Community Project Champion Community Mentor Academic Supervisor Non-academic Supervisor Last Updated: 10/16/14

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Dr. Michael Mikulak

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Dr. Michael Mikulak

Responsibilities Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Visually record process (e.g. pictures) ▪ Separate and organize quinoa Information Brochure ▪ Identify ways consumers can help combat the issues surrounding quinoa production in information brochure Research Harvesting Techniques ▪ Contact current quinoa growers in Southern Ontario Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Process the quinoa that is still on its stalks and separate it from the plant Marketing ▪ Create potential logo design and format layout for the front and back of packaging Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Process the quinoa that is dried to ensure it is free of plant debris Information Brochure ▪ Edit the content of the information brochure Contact potential community suppliers Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Dry quinoa on tarp and mesh window screens so processing will be easy Marketing ▪ Create potential packaging for quinoa to be sold in Research Harvesting Techniques ▪ Identify literature and research papers regarding quinoa growing in climates similar to Southern Ontario Harvest and Process Quinoa ▪ Put the processed quinoa in different bulk containers for measurement Information Brochure ▪ Address the socio-economic problems associated with quinoa production Identify and clarify needs of the project Provide resources and financial support for project research, as well as tips for quinoa harvesting and processing Facilitate in the harvest of quinoa at The Common Ground Farm Advise project team with farming techniques Serve as link to farming community

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6.

Project Management Meetings and communications with project collaborators: ● We will keep in contact with our community project champion on a weekly basis, either via email or in-person meetings. ● We will keep our project champion updated on our progress on the project, and any challenges we are facing.

Group Meetings: (if applicable) ● Meeting will take place every week on Tuesdays at 5:30 pm (before lecture) in CNH 102 to discuss our project progress and address any issues that arise. ● Tasks will be assigned to each group member at the end of our meetings, which will need to be completed by the next meeting unless otherwise specified. ● Each group member will be responsible for contributing equal parts to the project and will be held accountable if their work does not meet the groups’ expectations (e.g. a group meeting will take place to address problems with unsatisfactory work if a problem arises).

Working relationships: ● We expect to collaborate throughout the course of the project, ensuring that each group member’s opinion is heard and considered ● In the event of a disagreement, we will try to compromise and form a unanimous decision.

We will take a vote if this is not possible.

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Associated Costs ● Transportation of project members and supplies ($10) ● Printing marketing/educational material ($20 - $50) ● Packaging template ($10)

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Bibliography Blythman, J. (2013, January 16). Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?

Retrieved Wednesday 15, 2014, from The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa Romero, S., & Shahriari, S. (2011, March 20). A Food's Global Success Creates a Quandary at Home. The New York Times , A6.

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