High Andean Association Producers of Organic Quinoa: A Sustainability Study Based on Competitiveness and Performance

Medalit Villegas-Casaverde (), Alfredo Prado-Canchari, Katia Choque-Quispe, John Peter Aguirre-Landa, Henrry Wilfredo Agreda-Cerna, Delma Diana Reynoso-Canicani, Edwin Mescco Cáceres, Rosa Gabriela Coral Surco, Grecia Valverde Mamani, Fidelia Tapia Tadeo and Julio C. Loayza-Céspedes
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Medalit Villegas-Casaverde: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Alfredo Prado-Canchari: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Katia Choque-Quispe: Accounting and Finance Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
John Peter Aguirre-Landa: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Henrry Wilfredo Agreda-Cerna: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Delma Diana Reynoso-Canicani: Accounting and Finance Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Edwin Mescco Cáceres: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Rosa Gabriela Coral Surco: Accounting and Finance Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Grecia Valverde Mamani: Business Administration Academic Department, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Fidelia Tapia Tadeo: Agroindustrial Engineering, José María Arguedas National University, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru
Julio C. Loayza-Céspedes: Agropecuary Engineering Academic Department, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Andahuaylas 03701, Peru

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Quinoa, considered a superfood, is grown in the high Andean zones of Peru and Bolivia. The competitiveness, organizational capacity, and technological level of the producers limit their production. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of competitiveness on the performance of quinoa producer associations in the high Andes. The study was developed in the production period of 2022–2023 and considered associations of quinoa producers from different localities. The correlation between competitiveness (corporate identity, resources, and potential) and production performance (financial and non-financial) was studied. The data were collected through a questionnaire with closed questions and a Likert scale and presented normal distribution, and a one-factor ANOVA, Pearson′s correlation, and PCA at 5% significance were applied. Twenty-three quinoa producer associations were identified with 15 years of organic quinoa production of the varieties of Blanca de Junín, Choclito, Pasankalla, Negra, and Roja, with production ranging from 17 to 40.8 tons grown in a semi-mechanized way. It was observed that the general competitiveness of the associations was rated as moderately inadequate despite good performance; this behavior was more marked in the associations in urban areas such as Andahuaylas and San Jeronimo. Urban quinoa associations have higher quality than rural ones. Competitiveness is limited by a lack of human resources training, government commitment, and strategic alliances, which predicts low sustainability.

Keywords: organic quinoa; producers; associations; production performance; competitiveness; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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