World Pulses Day 2023

Food security

• In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, with external global shocks causing rising food and commodity prices, pulses contribute to the food security of smallholder farmers. Pulses differ from other cereal grains because they are an affordable option to both sell and consume. They play a key role in helping to reduce poverty in agricultural economies, typically offering farmers higher profit margins while combatting malnutrition (FAO).

• Pulses and legume varieties also help with economic stability, as when dried they can be stored for months without losing their high nutritional value, providing increased food availability between harvests (FAO). The crop residues from grain legumes can be used as animal fodder, saving on an additional expense for smallholder farmers.

• Consuming pulses help to increase the diversity of diets, especially in developing countries (UNEP), as pulses are extremely versatile and can be used in many different recipes, ranging from daal to falafel.

• In a time of rising food prices, where cost is a daily consideration for millions of citizens, pulses remain an affordable and accessible option for those seeking hearty, healthy and delicious flavours. On average, pulses cost less than £2 to feed a family of four (Eating Better) and dried beans only cost 0.81p per 500g.

Nutrition

• Pulses are a low-fat source of protein with high levels of fibre and important micronutrients such as iron, potassium and folate (pulses.org). They are also low in carbohydrates.

• The high-fibre intake from legumes has been associated with reduced blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus, according to the British Heart Foundation, legumes can help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and bowel cancer (Eating Better).

• Three heaped tablespoons of pulses count as 1 of your recommended 5-a-day and will provide the potassium, zinc, B-vitamins and antioxidants you need to keep you healthy (Eating Better). Affordable, highly micronutrient-dense foods such as pulses, are more important than ever before, as 3.1 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy, nutritious diet.

• Many diets around the world rely on pulses as a staple source of protein. The amount of protein in beans, lentils, chickpeas and peas is 2-3 times the levels found in cereal grains like wheat, rice, quinoa, oats, barley, and corn. For example, eating just ½ cup of lentils provides the same amount of protein as 1 cup of quinoa or 2 cups of rice or corn. Compared to animal and many other plant-based sources of protein, pulses are a more affordable and sustainable protein source.

Climate Adaptation & Mitigation

• Pulses can contribute to climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on the synthetic fertilisers used to introduce nitrogen artificially into the soil, as the crops have natural nitrogen-fixing properties that can improve soil fertility (FAO). Fava beans are the champions in this regard, but even dry beans can add up to 70 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare (ICARDA).

• Pulse species have a broad genetic diversity from which climate-resilient varieties can be selected (FAO). This diversity is a critical attribute in a warming world since climate experts suggested that heat stress will be the biggest threat to bean production in the coming decades. As such, scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture are currently working on developing a strain of pulses that can grow at higher temperatures than the crop would usually be accustomed to. These improved pulse varieties will be of critical importance, especially for low-input agricultural production systems (FAO).

• Pulses are vital to global biodiversity, which is in steep decline. Increased intercropping of pulses would hopefully mean decreased fertiliser application which is currently reducing the richness of plant species and biodiversity in all farmlands (RSPB).

• The pulse family is highly water-efficient compared to other protein sources. For instance, 1kg of lentils uses only 1,250 litres of water, whilst the same quantity of chicken requires 4,325 litres, mutton 5,520 litres, and beef a whopping 13,000 litres (FAO). Bean production results in 90% fewer harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere than beef per 100 g of protein (The Monday Campaigns).

• Cover crops – plants that are used to cover soil while restoring nutrients, improving water quality, and controlling pests and weeds – are critical to helping soil recover, especially after intense flooding. Pulses are a fantastic cover crop, especially lentils which love cold temperatures, low moisture and don’t mind winter soil temperatures. They germinate easily and grow a strong, upright stalk which can thrive amongst other, tougher crops.