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From Grassroots To Global: Unintended Consequences Of A Bolivian Quinoa Economy, Melissa Trinley

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations

This thesis offers a counterargument to the claims that Bolivian peasant farmers are acting in contradiction with their political support of food sovereignty by participating in a global quinoa economy. This research gives agency to the farmers by reframing the Bolivian quinoa story to show how farmers succeeded in overcoming “development” projects. My research is inspired by two brief periods of time I spent living in Bolivia volunteering with campesinos. This research offers insights into the unintended consequences producers experience when export of a regionally consumed food becomes a major economic development strategy to alleviate poverty. I take a historical …