By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office with the United Nations in collaboration with Emerging Ag Inc, governments, non-governmental organizations have said pulses are more than just nutritious seeds but are a gateway to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This came out of a meeting held via Zoom this week to mark World Pulses Day where stakeholders said the day was an opportunity to reaffirm the contribution of pulses for sustainable agriculture and achieving the 2030 Agenda.
The event was aimed at raising awareness and recognising the contribution of pulses to sustainable food systems and healthy diets, under the resolution A/RES/68/231 co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Burkina Faso, Guyana and Malawi to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett.
Recognising pulses’ value on 20 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) under resolution A/RES/68/231 declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP) with the efforts of Burkina Faso, who proposed the observance, the UN (A/RES/73/251) and designated 10 February of every year as World Pulses Day.
This year’s World Pulses Day celebrations ran under the theme: #LovePulses for a Healthy Diet and Planet.
Speaking during the Zoom Meeting yesterday, FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol said pulses play a key role in achieving better food systems.
“Today we celebrate the role of this diverse and versatile commodity in addressing food security and contributing to healthy diets. Pulses are a source of safe and nutritious food for all and also contribute to the sustainability of agricultural production systems,” Bechdol said.
The Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the UN, Eric Tiare, emphasized that as the world face climate change and its devastating effects, pulses should be adopted to mitigate environmental threats and to spearhead food security and resilience.
Tiare also highlighted pulses’ high nutritional value and their important role in soil.
“I’m glad that despite the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have managed to collaborate in commemorating this important day. World Pulses Day is a great opportunity to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of eating pulses. They contribute to climate change mitigation and there is need to adopt pulses to protect our climate and as well improving food resilience,” he said.
In his remarks during the same event, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Munir Akram, highlighted the significant role of pulses in reducing poverty, promoting the well-being of people and the planet, and achieving the far-reaching and people-centered set of universal and transformative goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In many countries, pulses are part of the cultural heritage and are consumed on a regular or even daily basis because of their nutritional value.
In line with this, the Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN said it was imperative to eat adequate amounts of pulses, as they are high in protein and fibre and contain important amounts of vitamins.
Angela Frigo, the Secretary General of the European Food Banks Federation said pulses improve the sustainability of overall food system and help to reduce food insecurity in developing and vulnerable countries.
provide many opportunities for improving the sustainability of agricultural production systems,” she said.
She added that pulses help in improving economic growth of Less Economically Developed Countries and should be recalled as an environmentally-friendly source of key nutrients helping to create an affordable, sustainable and nutrient secure present and future.
The virtual event was also graced with representatives from food banks and the industry as well as chefs who contributed in the panel discussion. Among them Chef Ron Pickarski, President Eco-Cuisine, Inc, chef from South Africa Mokgadi Itsweng and Cindy Brown, President of the Global Pulse Confederation.
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