LIP: The Peruvian Army’s Pachacutec Bread

"The Peruvian Army's Pachacutec Bread"
W. Alejandro Sanchez & Brittney Figueroa
Opinion
Living in Peru
March 15, 2017
Originally published: http://www.peruthisweek.com/food-the-peruvian-armys-pachacutec-bread-111347

As heavy rains and mudslides (commonly known in Peru ashuaycos) continue to ravage significant segments of the Peruvian Andes and coast, the government, including the country’s security and defense forces, has stepped up to offer aid throughout the affected regions. One particular initiative that deserves praise is the distribution of Pachacutec bread, Pan Pachacutec, baked by the Peruvian Army. Though unconventional, the initiative offers much needed comfort to those affected by the storms.

The Pachacutec Bread

This special bread measures 40 centimeters in length, weighs as much as 250 grams, and is reportedly edible for up to seven days. It is named “Pachacutec” in honor of Inca Pachacutec, the patron of the Peruvian Army’s First Brigade of Special Forces where the bread was first baked. According to the Peruvian daily La Republica, by mid-February, over 11,000 individuals affected by the ongoing extreme weather patterns have received this bread as part of government-organized aid programs. The areas where the bread has been distributed (as of mid-February) include Arequipa, the greater Lima region, as well as Piura.

The Peruvian media has covered and praised this relief strategy, with the military leaders, including the commander of the Army, General Luis Ramos, participating in photo-ops with freshly-made Pachacutec bread. Said photo-shoots also feature Peruvian troops baking the bread at the First Brigade’s “Pachacutec” bakery in Lima.

Significance

In times of crisis, particularly a humanitarian one such as the one Peru is currently experiencing, the defense and security forces are the tip of the spear when it comes to first response operations; they also play a vital role in long-term humanitarian relief and reconstruction. For example, the naval platform BAP Eten has been sent to Piura region transporting tons of humanitarian aid; meanwhile Army engineers, with tractors and heavy-duty trucks, are helping clear roads in order to reach remote towns. Military medical personnel have also been essential in helping the growing numbers of injured as the rains and mudslides continue.

We must salute the Army’s Pachacutec bread aid as it combines two of the best qualities of Peruvians: their will to help, as well as their culinary taste. Providing sustenance is a indeed a critical part of any humanitarian relief effort, but there is something meaningful about providing tasty food that can help improve spirits in times of extreme grief. Certainly the Pachacutec bread itself will not completely remedy the suffering of the thousands of people who have lost their homes, or have been affected in other ways due to the ongoing extreme weather patterns; as recently as early March, the Peruvian media reported that the inhabitants of some affected areas have complained that they have only received “bread and water” from the government. Nevertheless, the authors argue thatproviding a steady stream of flavorsome food is a (small yet comforting) first step toward reintroducing normalcy.

The Pachacutec bread may never win a culinary award – though it is worth noting that Peruvian bread bakers regularly, and successfully, compete in such international competitions – but it is a clear example of the Army’s willingness to constantly think of new ways to support those in need, once again highlighting Peruvian ingenuity and innate culinary expertise. Hence, it is no surprise that on March 7, a well-deserved ceremony was held, with Defence Minister Jorge Nieto Montesinos in attendance, to honor the soldiers of the First Brigade for this initiative.

W. Alejandro Sanchez Nieto is an international security analyst. Follow him on Twitter.

Brittney J. Figueroa is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelors degree in Global Studies, and a Minor in Latin American Iberian Studies.

The views presented in this essay are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the authors are associated.

Working Papers for CAEI

My four working papers for the Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales / Mis cuatro reportes pare el Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales

“Las Relaciones entre Argentina y Rusia durante la Presidencia de Mauricio Macri”

W. Alejandro Sanchez

Reporte – Working Paper No. 53

Programa Rusia, Cáucaso & Asia Central

Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales

PDF disponible / PDF available (en Espanol)

"Eligiendo Ganadores: Un Breve Analisis de la Compra de Armamento por el Peru"

W. Alejandro Sanchez

Reporte - Working Paper No. 10 Defensa & Seguridad

Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales

PDF disponible / PDF available (En Espanol)

“Colombia y Peru Necesitan Drones Armados?:

W. Alejandro Sanchez

Opinion - Working Paper No. 10

Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales

PDF disponible / PDF available (En Espanol)

"Pax Inca: Why is Peru Not a Regional Powerhouse in Latin America?:

W. Alejandro Sanchez

Working Paper #32 - America Latina

Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales

November 2013

PDF disponible / PDF available (In English)

LIP: Puno to host World Congress on Quinoa

"Puno to Host World Congress on Quinoa"
W. Alejandro Sanchez & Brittney Figueroa
Living in Peru
20 February, 2017
Originally published: http://www.peruthisweek.com/food-puno-to-host-international-conferences-on-quinoa-111276

Peru will host the VI World Congress on Quinoa and the IIIInternational Symposium of Andean Grains on March 21-24, 2017. The event will take place at the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno in the Puno region of southern Peru. The Congress’s objectives include promoting the nutritional, cultural, and gastronomic aspects of this grain to improve its stance in the global market, and also as a way to “reduce poverty and hunger, particularly in the communities of the high Andes.”

Peru is a global producer of this healthy grain, and is in constant competition with neighboring Bolivia for the title of Biggest Producer. The income gained from quinoa exports, as well as the way it helps promote the “made in Peru” brand across the world, makes the production of this grain a matter of national importance.

Export Numbers – Markets

Data from last year’s quinoa production and exports highlights the importance of this Peruvian crop, with the U.S. being its main destination. According to the Peruvian export association, Adex, between January and August of 2016, the country exported 33,778 tons of quinoa, 36% more than during the same period in 2015. Of this amount, 43% was bought by the U.S., with other destinations being Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. While the developed world continues to favor the grain as part of an ongoing health food craze, Peruvian quinoa is not just for consumption, as it can be utilized to produce cosmetics that Peru aims to export to the Asia Pacific region. Over half a million Peruvians make a living from growing quinoa,according to the Peruvian government.

Meanwhile, Bolivia continues to be a major quinoa producer with exports totaling 25 thousand tons in 2015, and 26 thousand tons in 2016. Moreover, other countries, like France, the United Kingdom, and the United States have their own variations of homegrown quinoa.

While production (in terms of volume) in the latter countries cannot be compared to the Andean states, it still poses a problem, as these are the target export countries for Lima and La Paz. Hence, consumption of locally-grown quinoa decreases the profits the South American countries obtain.

Another problem is the over-saturation of the market, which could reduce profits across the board. This is already happening in Bolivia, as a January 27, 2017 report in the daily Los Tiemposexplained. According to the article, 10% of two thousand Bolivian quinoa growers (members of the national quinoa association ANAPQUI) have stopped growing this crop “due to a fall in the international price and due to a drought.” Although not yet an issue in Peru, the situation in neighboring Bolivia should be of concern for Peruvian quinoa growers as well.

Culinary Diplomacy

A final word should be said about the role of quinoa as a component of a country’s culinary and cultural diplomacy. In 2013, Peru achieved a major victory when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations declared that year as the International Year of the Quinoa. Peruvian delegations regularly participate in international food fairs, in which different types of quinoa are shown to business owners and the general public. The goal is to not only increase Peruvian exports, (and by default, help the Peruvian state obtain more revenue) but also to establish a globally-known “made in Peru” brand that is associated, in this case, with culinary flavor and richness. Given the saturation of the global quinoa market, it is critical that Peruvian authorities ensure that international consumers regard Peruvian-grown quinoa as the most preferable.

Conclusions

In a 2013 commentary for Blouin News, one author argued, “Peru should embark in an aggressive culinary diplomacy by taking advantage of its rich agricultural resources and well-regarded traditional dishes. Capitalizing on the global craze over quinoa was a well thought-out initiative by the Peruvian government.” Lima has generally followed this suggestion, and the upcoming World Congress on Quinoa and the International Symposium of Andean Grains in Puno should cement a global association between quinoa and Peru. (While not the objective of this analysis, the authors would like to applaud the fact that the congress will take place in Puno, not in the capital, which is a step toward diversifying where international events are held in Peru.)

Quinoa’s importance is multifaceted, not only to Peru, but also to the rest of the world, hence it is commendable that the organizers of the upcoming World Congress include the ministries of Agriculture, Culture, Environment, and Foreign Affairs. The anticipated success of the event will help reaffirm Peru’s position as a global producer of quinoa.

W. Alejandro Sanchez Nieto is an international security analyst. Follow him on Twitter:@W_Alex_Sanchez

Brittney J. Figueroa is a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelors degree in Global Studies, and a Minor in Latin American Iberian Studies.

The views presented in this essay are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the authors are associated.

NSF: Colombian Crackdown on Illegal Fishing

"Colombian Crackdown on Illegal Fishing"
W. Alejandro Sanchez & Brittney Figueroa
National Security Forum
6 February, 2017
Originally published: https://medium.com/natural-security-forum/colombian-crackdown-on-illegal-fishing-f600801b66d2#.ex1nusw38

The Colombian government has recently begun expanding their capabilities to combat IUU fishing, revealing a shift in security priorities.

Guest written by W. Alejandro Sanchez

This past October, the government of Colombia took a major step forward in combating illegal fishing when 26 of its citizens were sent to prison for doing just that. According to Colombian media, this is the first time that Colombians have been prosecuted and sentenced for illegal fishing, a major problem for the South American state that is exacerbated by the presence of unauthorized vessels from foreign nations.

Ongoing incidents and data point to the scale of illegal maritime exploitation, and exemplify how illegal fishing will likely not stop anytime soon. For example, a December 2015 Colombian Navy communiqué revealed that, in that year alone, more than 12,400 kilograms of illegally-obtained sea life were seized.

As for 2016, in February, a Colombian corvette, Nariño (CM-55), detained the Costa Rican Anagon in the Pacific Ocean. The vessel had a crew of four Costa Ricans and was transporting one and a half tons of various fish, including shark and tuna. Months later, in June, a vessel carrying a crew of five Hondurans flying the flag of the Cayman Islands was detained off Serranilla Bank in Colombia’s Caribbean waters. The vessel had illegally fished 1.3 tons of northern red snapper. The Colombian media has also discussed the international aspect of this problem. For example, a report by the renowned daily El Tiempo discussed how unauthorized foreign vessels come from neighboring Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica and Ecuador. Clearly, the transnational security aspect of this issue is on the minds of many Colombians.

It’s not just foreign nationals implicated in this crime. Colombians are also guilty of illegal fishing, as the aforementioned October arrest of more than two dozen Colombians who were found in possession of two tons of 22 different types of sea life, so clearly illustrates. The penal sentences for unauthorized fishing will set an important precedent for future arrests.

As far back as 2012, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made his intentions clear to crack down on this crime. In January 2012, he critiquedforeign fishing vessels, explaining that “they are violating our territory, the environment as well as our maritime richness.” He also called for the Colombian Navy to “monitor [this crime] with special care.” Certainly, the cornerstone of his presidency has been the peace negotiations with the FARC insurgents, but the Colombian head of state has also supported greater attention against illegal fishing, particularly given its domestic and international security consequences. It comes as no surprise that there have been strong efforts in recent years towards protecting the country’s seas.

In order to crack down on the problem of illegal fishing, the Colombian Navy has obtained new platforms to patrol its maritime territory. Combating illegal fishing, along with other non-traditional security threats, means that there is a growing need for offshore patrol vessels, many of which have been constructed by Colombia’s state-run COTECMAR. The new platforms have helped carry out a string of successful operations to crack down on illegal fishing boats, both domestic and foreign. Additionally, the Colombian Congress is debating (and will hopefully soon ratify) a penal code against illegal fishing. Finally, inter-governmental cooperation is improving. This past May, officials from Colombia and Ecuador met to discuss how to more efficiently combat illegal fishing along their common border. These initiatives give hope that Bogota is approaching this crime with multi-layered solutions.

W. Alejandro Sanchez is an international security analyst. Follow him on Twitter @W_Alex_Sanchez

The author would like to thank Brittney Figueroa for her help. The views presented in this essay are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the author is associated.

The views and opinions expressed on the Natural Security Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Stimson Center.