Pulses, also known as legumes, are the edible seeds of leguminous plants cultivated for food. Dried beans, lentils, and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses.
Staples dishes and cuisines from across the world feature pulses, from hummus in the Mediterranean (chickpeas) to a traditional full English breakfast (baked navy beans) to Indian dal (peas or lentils).
Pulses do not include crops harvested green (e.g. green peas, green beans)—these are classified as vegetable crops. Also excluded are those crops used mainly for oil extraction (e.g. soybean and groundnuts) and leguminous crops that are used exclusively for sowing purposes (e.g. seeds of clover and alfalfa).
What can you do for World Pulses Day?
First, encourage people worldwide to eat pulses on February 10, 2020.
- A day featuring pulses served at your facility or with your family
- Corporate lunch with employees and partners
- Seminar/Symposium/Lecture
- Dinner with friends
- A meal at a restaurant
- Donations of pulses
- A song or video (or other artistic creation) in honor of pulses or your favorite pulse-based meal
Origin
Recognizing their value, on 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). The celebration of the year, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), increased public awareness of pulses’ nutritional and environmental benefits as part of sustainable food production.
Building on the success of the International Year of Pulses and recognizing their potential to further achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular relevance to Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15, Burkina Faso proposed the observance of World Pulses Day.
In 2019, the General Assembly proclaimed 10 February as World Pulses Day.
Leave a Reply