Forging a New Future for Pulses
The International Year of Pulses (IYP) creates a unique moment to showcase transformative research investments that would allow pulse crops to deliver on their full potential as a critical player in the global food system. The current level of research funding into pulses is too low. This may be handicapping efforts to improve food security and agricultural sustainability. The ‘Global Pulse Productivity & Sustainability Survey’ conducted by the Global Pulse Confederation for the International Year of Pulses suggests that annual investment hovers at only $175m per annum for the 13 crops in the pulse category. With over 800 million people suffering from acute or chronic undernourishment, increasing pulse research is vital. We can only meet the world’s protein needs with better varieties of chickpeas, peas, beans, and lentils.
The large gap between the potential of pulse crops for meeting global sustainability challenges, and the current capacity to seize this potential, has inspired a new and innovative project for GPC; the 10-Year Pulse Research Strategy. The 10-Year Research Strategy, funded by the IDRC of Canada, will be used to set an agenda for global discussion and mobilize champions to advocate for accelerated pulse research investments. This strategy will aim to:
- Mobilize and establish global and regional networks of leading scientists and industry players to accelerate collaboration toward improved productivity and sustainability of pulses.
- Convene public and private researchers to clarify major knowledge gaps and to establish a shared research agenda across international and national scientific efforts.
- Develop an internationally coordinated pulse crop productivity and sustainability research strategy, which increases the visibility of all pulse research domains, through engagement with governments, researchers, NGOs, associations, and others.
- ‘Expand the pie’ by attracting new types of research investment / investors (e.g. industry funds; public-private partnerships) to achieve adequate funding for both existing research programs and essential but marginalized research issues (eg, orphan crops; integrated approach to productivity, sustainability, nutrition and food security).
The International Year of Pulses has been a huge success, but there is still a long way to go to increase investments in pulse research globally. The Global Pulse Confederation also calls for pulses to be prioritized in future agronomic research programs and placed at the heart of governments’ nutrition and food security strategies. Let’s work together for Pulses: the Food of the Future.
Sr. Hakan Bahceci