The book “International Year of the Potato” is dedi-
cated to this old and nutritious food which today can
solve hunger problems in the world and contains
quite extensive information. History tells us that the
Spanish carried it to Europe in the sixteenth cen-
tury, and it quickly spread across the globe from
China's Yunnan plateau to the steppes of the
Ukraine, changing the history of food in the Old
World. It is the world’s number one non-grain food
commodity, production reached a record 325 million
tonnes in 2007, China is the world’s principal pro-
ducer (FAO, 2008). Our native potato is unique in the
world, and represents a real treasure that needs to
be appreciated in Latin America and taken care of.
These three basic native foods that are rich in car-
bohydrates were wisely complemented with other
native foods with a high content in protein, such as
beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). With evidence of culti-
vation from 500–8 000 years ago, beans are still
present in daily diets from North to South America.
They also present a high level of biodiversity in peel
colour, shape and composition, and are a source of
bioactive components, their oil 2 percent, a good
source of linolenic acid, about 40 percent (TACO,
2006).
In the Andes Region, other native seeds comple-
mented the Incan diet, such as quinoa (Chenopodium
quinoa), with more protein and fat than cereals. The
four limiting amino acids in a mixed human diet, ly-
sine, sulphurs (methionine and cystine), threonine
and tryptophan, are present in higher amounts than
in wheat, confirming the high quality of its biological
protein (Bascur and Ramelli, 1959; Tapia, 1997;
Schmidt-Hebbel et al.,1992), the 7.4% oilseed con-
tent is 7.8% linolenic, 50% linoleic, 23% oleic, and
11 % palmitic, good n-6:n- 3 ratio of 6.4:1 according to
current recommendations (FAO, 2010c; Masson and
Mella, 1985). “High Plateau” quinoa, a whole plant
food, is a good source of vitamins and minerals and
needs more research. Its plants and seeds present
great biodiversity, and they grow at a high altitude,
3 000–4 000 m above sea level, in very aggressiveconditions, including low temperatures, strong
winds, high sun irradiation, salty soil.
They develop bioactive compounds, such as
flavonoids and anthocyanin, as defence mecha-
nisms. Quinoa leaves and seeds are pink, green,
yellow, brownish, deep black colour, and they are
highly valued in external markets (Tapia, 1997).
Tarwi or lupine seeds (Lupinus mutabilis), the bitter
variety, have their alkaloids taken out for human
consumption (Tapia, 1997). The composition of tarwi
seeds is close to that of soybeans. Their fatty acids
are a good source of linolenic acid 9%, and linoleic
acid 21%, with a n-6:n-3 ratio of 2.2:1. Between 200
m and 4 000 m in altitude, other tubers were also
grown, such as oca (Oxalis tuberose) (Tapia, 1997).
Six varieties, with different shapes and peel colours
of pink, yellow, deep violet and white, were analysed
(Jimenez and Sammán, 2009).
The pink peel variety has the best composition.
Some roots other than yuca have also been impor-
tant in Andean and Central American diets, such as
sweet potato (Hipomea batata). With its rustic culti-
vation and high productivity, it saved the lives of
many people in catastrophic situations in Europe
and Asia. It is a good source of carbohydrates, fibre,
and β-carotene (Schmidt-Hebbel et all., 1992;
Kimura et al., 2007 ).
Amaranto or kiwicha (Amaranthus caudatus) also
complemented the protein in the Andean diet (Tapia,
1997). Fourteen samples of genetic material from
four amaranto seed varieties (A. mantegazzianus,
A. caudatus, A. cruentus , A. hipochondriacus) were
analysed, including the fatty acid composition of
the seed oil, before reintroducing them in Jujuy,
Argentina. The best variety was A. caudatusCT 10,
which is highly resistant to extreme drought (Acuña
et al., 2007). The fatty acid groups were 24% satu-
rated, 29% monounsaturated and 44% polyunsatu-
rated. Squash or pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), a
good source of β-carotene (Kimuraet al., 2007 ;
Azebedo-Melero and Rodriguez-Amaya, 2007),
together with corn and beans continues to be a part218