November 10 sees the official launch of the United Nations International Year of Pulses 2016. A refresher: pulses are legumes which are harvested solely for dry grain. So think of dried beans, chickpeas (of course!), pigeon peas, black-eyed peas and lentils; all products that you might find in the the bulk bins of your neighborhood supermarket or natural health store.
Since pulses are harvested to be used in their dried form, they can be readily stored and transported, both whole and also often ground into flour. This is certainly the case with chickpeas that have been eaten around the world for centuries, stewed or steamed whole; mashed as in the now-ubiquitous hummus (by the way, is the Arabic word meaning chickpea); or ground into flour and used in multiple dishes both savory and sweet. For example, chickpea flour is used throughout South Asia, where it is known as gram or besan.
Pulses can contribute significantly in addressing hunger, food security, malnutrition, environmental challenges and human health.
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Written statement at launch of International Year of Pulses 2016.
Here at The Chickpea Institute, we are extremely excited that pulses as a vital food crop and source of nutrition are being recognized at the international level for an entire year. We look forward to being a part of the conversation!
