FAO highlights pulses as seeds of hope for the transformation of agrifood systems

Pulses play a key role in transforming agrifood systems by promoting sustainability, nutrition, and agricultural productivity while supporting people's livelihoods, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Peru's Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) emphasized today during the global commemoration event of World Pulses Day 2025.

In a message, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted the contributions of pulses to biodiversity in agrifood systems, crop systems, and diets, considering the high levels of food insecurity the world is facing, with one in 11 people experiencing hunger in 2023.

"Pulses are strategic crops, especially when we must produce more with less, they allow us to enhance agricultural productivity while reducing negative impacts on the environment. They are nutrient-dense food packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals which are essential to our health. For these reasons, pulses are important contributors to the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind", said the FAO Director-General.

For his part, the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation of Peru, Ángel Manuel Manero Campos, highlighted the opportunities that pulses offer to the country's producers, both in terms of production and income. He emphasized that pulses require little water for cultivation, improve soil quality, and open export opportunities. "The future presents new opportunities for producers. The future looks very promising for countries like Peru, which have both the responsibility and the great opportunity to help feed the world," stated Manero Campos.

World Pulses Day has been celebrated annually since 2018 when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated February 10 as its official date to raise public awareness of the fundamental role of pulses in food security, agriculture, health, climate change, and biodiversity. Despite their importance, global per capita annual consumption of pulses remains low at just 7.77 kilograms.

"As we transform agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, pulses stand out as seeds of hope, offering a range of benefits for nutrition, the environment, and the economy. Each of us can play a key role in promoting the sustainable production and consumption of pulses, from the field to our tables," said Yurdi Yasmi, Director of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division.

Pulses bring and maintain diversity in agrifood systems in three keyways: on the farm, at the table, and through value-added products. In agriculture, they enhance biodiversity and productivity by enriching cropping systems. In food, they serve as an affordable source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals, improving food security and nutrition. Moreover, their versatility allows them to be processed into flour, pasta, and protein drinks, generating economic opportunities for farmers and producers.

The celebration featured a high-level ceremony, an exhibition, and a culinary presentation showcasing tarwi, a native Peruvian pulse, followed by an interactive technical forum introduced by Vice Minister Iván Ramos Pastor. Panelists included Carol Abanto, Corporate Director of Research and Development at Danper; Juan José González, Research Coordinator at the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance; Cecilia Baginsky, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences of the University of Chile; and Julio Francisco Castillo, Founder of the Allpa Cuna Foundation. They discussed how pulses contribute to the diversity and sustainability of agrifood systems.