February 10th
Origin
The General Assembly first recognized February 10th as World Pulses Day in 2019 after seeing the succes of the International Year of Pulses in 2016. Burkina Faso also proposed it because of its alliance with Sustainable Development Goals 1 (no poverty) 2 (zero hunger), 3 (good health and wellbeing), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action) and 15 (environment).
What are pulses?
Pulses, also known as legumes, are edible seeds in the legume family, some well-known examples being dried beans, lentils and peas. They’ve been grown since around 7000 – 8000 B.C. The word itself comes from the Latin word puls which means “thick gruel”, “porrige” or “mush”. A few dishes from around the world that feature this kind of food are hummus from the Mediterranean (chickpeas), baked Navy beans from England, and Indian dal (peas or lentils).
Importance
Nutritional Value
They are packed with protein – 100 grams of lentils contain 25 grams of protein! This makes them an ideal choice in religions where meat and dairy are not very accessible. They are also low in fat and rich in soluble fiber and potassium, which can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This is why they are recommended by health organizations for controlling non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart conditions, as well as obesity. Additionally, they are low in sodium, reducing the risk of hypertension. Pulses are a good source of iron as well, and to optimize the absorption of it, combine them with vitamin-C rich foods (for example, lentil curry with lemon juice). Not only that, but they are also an great source of folate, which is a B-vitamin that is essential for the nervous system to function properly.
Eco-Friendly benefits
Pulses improve soil fertility because of their nitrogen fixing properties, therefore repelling harmful pests and diseases, while also reducing the need to depend on synthetic fertilizers, which contribute to climate change. Using legumes for intercropping (alternating rows of plants) also increases farm and soil biodiversity. Growing lentils are also extremely water efficient, as producing one kilogram needs only 1250 liters, compared to beef, which needs 13,000 liters to produce the same amount. Because they can be stored for months, it doesn’t need to be grown too often, therefore reducing the amount of resources needed to be used to produce it in general.
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Sources: World Pulses Day | United Nations, Nature’s nutritious seeds: 10 reasons why you should opt for pulses | FAO Stories, Surprising facts about pulses you might not know