Pulses seen as COP28 winner

A recently concluded global meeting on climate change has created a huge opportunity for pulses, say industry officials.

They contend that the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP28) has paved the way for increased global attention and investment in crops such as peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans.

Agriculture has not been a big theme in previous conferences, but it was in the December 2023 meeting held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

An entire day of the two-week conference was devoted to food, water and agriculture, during which the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization released a global roadmap for agriculture.

The roadmap includes priorities such as reducing meat consumption in rich nations and lowering global fertilizer usage, two policies that tie in nicely with increased pulse crop production and consumption.

Pulses could play a “very significant” role in the greening of the agriculture sector, according to an article published in the January edition of the Global Pulse Confederation’s Pulse Forward publication.

Nitrogen-fixing pulses can help reduce the industry’s reliance on fertilizers, while providing an alternative to animal protein. They can also significantly improve the nutritional profile of diets around the world.

Greg Northey, Pulse Canada’s vice-president of corporate affairs who attended COP28, said he shares the view that the conference could be a boon for pulses.

“They’re definitely seen as a solution,” he said.

Pulses were featured prominently in the carbon-neutral food menus prepared by the host country.

The UAE also pushed through a non-binding declaration signed by 152 countries pledging to incorporate agriculture into the National

Adaptation Plans that are the cornerstone of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Northey sees that as a starting point for discussions surrounding food systems that could lead to an increased global focus on pulses.

More than 200 food processing companies also signed the declaration.

And there were discussions about how the global banking community can help foster the transition to a greener agriculture industry.

“To be honest, that is probably the area that will influence things the most,” said Northey.

The GPC article noted that a mere 4.3 percent of global climate finance goes to food systems, according to the FAO.

GPC director Sudhakar Tomar said that is about to change. There was plenty of new funding for agricultural projects announced at COP28.

He said the pulse sector needs to access those funds to take pulses from “the marginal to the mainstream.” It also needs to make researchers and governments aware that pulses are an “unsung hero in climate change mitigation.”

“Every person should know that if there’s one smart crop that naturally fixes climate change, it’s pulses,” he said in GPC’s Pulse Forward publication.

Tomar said the pulse industry needs to approach the individuals and organizations who are committing funds and ask them for “serious money.”

“Then we can direct the money into seed research and public distribution programs for schools,” he said.

Tomar wants pulse producers and exporters in developed countries, such as Canada and Australia, to support those initiatives.

Northey said the big announcement at the conference was the increase in funding for the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, a joint initiative by the United States and the UAE.

Funding was increased to more than US$17 billion, up from $8 billion at the COP27 conference.

He shares Tomar’s view that the pulse sector needs to get its hands on some of that money.

“If you’re looking at investing in climate-smart practices, pulses are an absolute low-hanging fruit,” said Northey.

Tags: lentils, peas, chickpeas, pulses, beans, climate change, Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, COP28