International Year of Pulses Step Closer

ROME - Apr 24/13 - SNS -- Efforts to have 2016 declared the International Year of Pulses moved a step closer today.

"With grateful thanks to the Turkish and Pakistan Governments who moved the motion and the representatives of around 47 other country governments who spoke in favor of the motion, CICILS IPTIC is very pleased to advise that late this afternoon FAO Council approved unanimously the first and most important of three steps towards the declaration of 2016 as UN International year of pulses, to follow the Year of Soil in 2015," CICILS said in a press statement.

"While there are never any guarantees of course, we are told that the next two steps in the process are usually more or less formalities and will take place at meetings in Rome June 19th and then New York November or December."

CICILS President Hakan Bahceci and CEO Gavin Gibson have been in attendance at meetings of the FAO Council for the last 3 days along with consultant Robynne Anderson and a key private sector supporter Birgit Schleifenbaum from major Swiss ingredients and favors manufacturer Firmenich.

Executive Committee members Remo Pedon and Albert Garcia also came to Rome to support us and attended a reception at the Turkish Embassy last night as we worked to make sure all FAO council members were well aware of our project.