Pulses, global health, and sustainability: Future trends

Abstract

To feed the nine billion people who will be living on this planet by 2050 requires protein-and micronutrient-rich nutritious foods. In the late 1960s, the "Green Revolution" increased the production of cereals (rice, wheat, and maize) to combat global hunger by increasing caloric consumption. Today, however, millions of people around the world suffer from obesity, overweight, and micronutrient malnutrition. Health experts are now recommending a second revolution-a "greener" revolution-to provide not just food but more nutritious foods such as pulses: lentil, field pea, chickpea, and dry bean. Food legumes are a central part of the diet for many communities around the world, and therefore pulse crops could be a suitable whole food solution to combat obesity and micronutrient malnutrition. The objective of this chapter is to discuss the history of pulse crops, current production, nutritional promise, current breeding efforts at ICARDA (International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), and a successful case study whereby a Clemson University student created pulse-based community gardens ("Tiger Garden") to combat obesity and malnutrition.