Thumbnail from the video with Delphine Guey's interview at the French Agriculture Fair. Delphine is holding the product box for a lentil steak.

SemencesTV by @GNIS produced a wonderful TV show on agricultural issues during the French Agricultural Fair (Salon de l’Agriculture) last March in Paris. One of the shows focused on pulses and lentils. Moderated by Delphine Guey, GNIS, the show illustrates the growing interest of French producers and consumers for pulses, through the particular example of the lentil steak. Delphine Guey interviews an agronomic researcher, an organic pulse grower and a young start-up producing lentil steak.

A collection of healthy food, including beans and chickpeas, spread out on a table

The French food agency (ANSES) has updated the guidance that underpins France's official dietary guidelines. According to the new commentary to the recommendations (https://www.anses.fr/fr/system/files/NUT2012SA0103Ra-1.pdf), a series of changes regarding pulses were implemented, including:

Logo for Village By CA North of France

Village By CA North of France is launching the first european call for applications on the topic “Innovate to develop people demand for plant-based proteins products”

10 February 2017, Ouagadougou Burkina Faso - First Lady of Burkina Faso Sika Kaboré and FAO's Deputy Director-General Maria-Helena Semedo attend the International Year of Pulses (IYP) closing ceremony.

February 10th–11th, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The Global Pulse Confederation would like to extend its sincere congratulations to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and to Burkina Faso for an extremely successful closing of the 2016 International Year of Pulses. GPC was able to participate in this extraordinary event, alongside ministers and high level representatives of countries and other stakeholders committed to promoting the benefits of pulses for the health of people and of the planet. “This event was an opportunity to demonstrate our collective commitment to furthering the progress made on this front beyond 2016, and to continue to build on the Year’s achievements” commented Huseyin Arslan, president of the GPC. The event was a fitting capstone to the 2016 International Year of Pulses, and we wish to commend the FAO and Burkina Faso for demonstrating the importance of pulses to feeding the world in a healthy and sustainable way.

Burkina Faso President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (centre) and FAO Deputy Director-General Maria-Helena Semedo (right) at the International Year of Pulses closing ceremony.

Beans, lentils and chickpeas are small but powerful allies in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

By Dr. Christine Negra, Versant Vision LLC

Pushing toward the goal line

Victory will be a lot easier to achieve for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in a world where people grow and eat more chickpeas, lentils, beans, and other pulse crops. High-protein, low-fat, high-fiber pulse grains are heavy hitters for human health and nutrition and these plants are real team players when it comes to boosting soil fertility.