IYOP at the World Pulses Convention

Recognizing their role in feeding the world and to highlight the contributions to health, nutrition, and sustainability, the United Nations declared that 2016 will be an International Year of Pulses (IYOP). Eager to be part of the celebration, the Global Pulse Confederation (CICILS) is working on many activities with partners from all over the world.

During the World Pulses Convention in the USA on 12-15 April, all are welcome to discuss efforts organised around four thematic areas: Food and Nutritional Security and Innovation; Creating Awareness, Market Access & Stability; Productivity & Environmental Sustainability.

Each of these thematic areas are coordinated by work groups formed by volunteer industry experts, scientists from global science centres, health institutes, academics, and farm groups. They include: the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the McGill University, the Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the INCLEN Trust International (International Clinical Epidemiology Network).

This year’s World Pulses Convention in Las Vegas will be the stage for the unveiling of a new Pulse Brand to give pulses the promotion they deserve as the important superfood they are. The brand aims to shape how people feel and think about pulses, helping them to recognize its nutritional benefits and their potential contributions to the environment. The project is led by the award winning agency Leo Burnett, one of the world’s largest agency networks with 96 offices in 84 countries.

To further support the activities, GPC is organising a “Viva Las Pulses Auction” on April 14th. All auction items have been donated by members of the pulse industry and range from containers of dark red kidney beans, to a 4 day & 3 night stay in a beautiful resort in Mexico’s Riviera, as well as a sophisticated Swiss watch, an old master painting, and many more surprises.

From the lovely lentils, to beneficial beans, pulses will be the star next year, so if you are a “pulse lover” you can join the IYOP campaign and following them in Twitter. Finally, watch out because we will bring you the latest news from the World Pulses Convention.