Huge Potential, Significant Challenges

PANAMA - Oct 23/20 - SNS -- The importance of pulses in the global agricultural economy has grown significantly in the past 20 years, with massive increases in global trade, production and consumption.

In the five years between 2000 and 2004, production averaged 43.57 million metric tons (MT), trade 8.02 million and inferred usage 40.24 million MT per year. During the five years ending in 2020, production averaged 62.02 million MT year, global trade 18.15 million and consumption 57.33 million MT.

There have been noticeable increases in average consumption of pulses in a wide range of forms: whole and split, prepared foods, pet foods, and after conversion into starch and protein fractions.

Fractionation has led to a proliferation of new products containing pulse flours and proteins. There is significant optimism about the future growth potential of that sector as more consumers look for products they perceive as healthier, more environmentally friendly, and non-GMO.

Not only for themselves. Years ago there was a joke than one day two dogs would meet on the street and one would ask the other, "Eeeu, still eating meat?" Today, some pets are literally eating vegetarian and vegan diets, with pulses being a key nutritional important component in many formulations.