Quinoa has recently attracted global attention due to its ability to produce high quality grains under ecologically extreme conditions; a trait increasingly necessary in our unpredictable world. The superior nutritional and functional properties of quinoa seeds in comparison to other grains has intensified international demand for this valuable crop. With a higher protein content than traditional cereals plus amino acids, vitamins C, E and B, assorted minerals, isoflavones, and high quality lipids, it is an important crop for the diversification of future agricultural systems worldwide. Due to these valuable nutritional features, quinoa has been selected by the FAO as one of the crops able to improve food security in the 21st century, with the United Nations declaring 2013 as the 'International Year of Quinoa'. This book traces the crop from its origin and provides up to date information about this underutilized pseudo-cereal, detailing the phylogeny, systematics, botany, agrotechnology, economics and marketing of quinoa. It also covers distribution, breeding, stress tolerance and important diseases and pests. The first comprehensive work on this crop, this book is a vital resource for researchers and students of crop science. Book jacket.