10-YEAR RESEARCH STRATEGYFOR PULSE CROPS: INTEGRATION OF

PULSES INTO FOOD SYSTEMSBy

Carol J. HenryAssoc. Prof. and Assistant Dean

Nutrition Division,University of Saskatchewan

Rehima is one of 46,000 small holder farmers in Southern Ethiopia

Participant in the CIFSRF “Scaling-up Pulse Innovation project”

The project employs food based with BCC strategies to address food and nutrition security in Southern Ethiopia

Pulse food strategy is helping her meet the demands of her household - nutrition, income

Why pulse crops in the food system?

Income for

farmers

Cost effective source of protein

Export value

Food and nutrition security

Soil fertility

Demand Driven

Chronic disease

manage-ment: DB,

obesity

Chapter 3: Integration of pulses into food systems

Research objectives1. Understand the contexts and drivers –– Production–land, income for pulse production, agricultural

policiesDemand: 1980-81 global demand for pulses 42 million tons2009-11 demand rose to 66 million tons80% of pulses consumed in developing countries, 40%

in developed world-50% animal feedFuture predictions-23% increase globally, with much

more rapid increases in AfricaSociocultural dimensions (food habits, tastes & species

preferences), affordability will increase consumption potential, and increase demand

•

Research Objectives contd.2. Understand Pulses value chain actors-constraints & opportunities– Global food system will likely include a range of actors– Will be important to identify and describe major pulse

value chain actors, features of an efficient, equitable value chain

– To see significant increase in pulse production farmers will need stronger price (subsidy signals), consumer appealing, pulse-based products, improved production standards, realisable pulse supply

– Pulse value chain cannot be done in isolation, other components of the agricultural system must be in place- extension, improved seed, soil fertility measures

3.Anticipate implications of value chain for women and youthGlobal food system will likely include a range of actors (incl. women &youth)To see significant increase in pulse production farmers will need stronger price (subsidy signals), consumers -appealing, pulse-based products, improved production standards, sustainable pulse supplyPulse value chain cannot be done in isolation, other components of the agricultural system must be in place- extension, improved seed, soil fertility measures

Research Objectives contd.

4. Documenting nutritional and health benefits to inform policy, support dietary recommendations

• Clinical health benefits involves to major dimensions– Health Outcomes (risk factors): Randomized, controlled studies on the

role of dietary pulses with regards to non-communicable disease risk factors (i.e. cholesterol level, blood glucose, blood pressure)

– Need to build a body of knowledge that considers diverse demographic groups (e.g. age, health, socio-economic status, indigenous settings)

• Hard outcomes (mortality, morbidity): large, long-term trials that evaluate the role of dietary pulse with regards to actual mortality and morbidity (e.g. diabetes)

Research Objectives contd.

5. Value addition such as novel foods and pulse-based ingredients• “flip the script”- pulse need to be seen as more intrinsically appealing and

nutritious not just a low-cost substitute for animal protein… central to value chains that deliver financial rewards to farmers for producing high-quality pulse crops– CIFSRF-Pulse Ethiopia Project

• Developing and delivering nutritious pulses food products (snacks, complementary porridge, flours)-vital sources of protein and other key nutrients, improved farm income coupled with nutrition education to reach at least 70,000 farm households.

– Growing interest in manufactured pulse food products; and recipes for preparing whole grains

Research Objectives contd.

6. Ensure sustainability and safety (e.g. production practices, socio economic impacts or product safety)

Tools and approachesBio fortification and nutrient bioavailability Simply fortifying foods with pulses (e.g. adding pulse flour to breads; pulses

in baby food; combining animal and vegetable protein) can improve diet qualityo the factors/mechanisms of bioavailability o absorption and efficacy studies

‘Whole of diet’ The whole of diet approach evaluates locally available and affordable food

components o What people are producing and consuming, o what is available in local markets, o what constitutes a higher or lower quality diet.

Consider testing diet interventions through participatory engagement with community.

Data and metrics

• Several options are available to supplement the existing pulse data base : – For consumption and diet, metrics can include food

groups in the diet and minimum diet diversity (e.g. for women, children).

– Exploit potential data sources such as Demographic and health surveys, which collect information about children.

– Pulse-specific case studies conducted in both developing and developed countries

– Monitoring and evaluation, activity metrics (e.g. number of farmers served)

– Outcome metrics (e.g. adoption percentages; kilograms of pulses; anthropometric measures)

– Market orientation index per pulse types’ to measure the level of acceptability of different pulses.

Current capacities and competencies

Documenting nutrition and health benefits

More data-gathering is needed for characterizing nutritional composition (e.g. vitamins, minerals, protein)

Collaboration with the medical community is an important pathway

Bioavailability and biofortification Research on bioavailability and biofortification can be done cost-

effectively at existing centers of excellence e.g. University of Saskatchewan; CIAT, Michigan State University,

Cornell University, University of Manitoba …... Pulse producer groups in developed countries could undertake

valuable studies on commercial scale biofortification. Institutions and researchers in developing countries can be used

as a catalyst in the process.

Key pillars for implementing the strategy

• Pulse innovations • Partnership• Funding• Capacity building

Thank you

It’s our legacy