Pulses are the theme of a live broadcast that will address the production and consumption scenario of legumes in Brazil

“World Pulses Day – a conversation about peas, lentils and chickpeas” is the title of the live which will take place on February 10th, at 19 pm, on the Embrapa YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/embrapa), presented by the researcher and general head of Embrapa Vegetables (Brasilia DF) Warley Nascimento and the president of the Brazilian Institute of Beans and Pulses (Ibrafe) Marcelo Lüders, who will debate issues involving the pulse scenario in Brazil and the world.

The research carried out with the pulses, the results achieved and the perspectives on the production and consumption of these grains will be the focus of the debates, according to Nascimento, who coordinates research into the genetic improvement of legumes at Embrapa Hortaliças.

The researcher highlights the advances made in terms of cultivar genetics and production technology of the three species worked at Embrapa, which translate into satisfactory production, with good productivity, whether dry farming (chickpeas) or irrigated (peas and lentils). But, in addition to the gates, according to the researcher, some bottlenecks were identified that will also be discussed during the live broadcast.

“Often, there is good productivity, but the producer is unable to put it on the market satisfactorily, so one of the objectives of this live is, in addition to listing the research work carried out in the last decade, with the contribution of Ibrafe, to show all the potential of these grains, whether in the domestic market or in exports, or in alternatives related to new forms of consumption, which include flours – pasta, bread, pizza, among others – and as protein to replace meat, in the production of hamburgers, nuggets and sausages, for example”, points out the researcher.

“Through partnerships with Embrapa Agroindústria de Alimentos (RJ) and Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical (CE), based on two approved research projects, we have already started testing our materials in these products”, he adds.

In the same line of approach, the president of Ibrafe notes that “when we think about the future of food we cannot fail to highlight important components such as nutrition and sustainability, plus low cost, and pulses fit perfectly into these aspects”.

Lüders credits Embrapa with the gradual increase in the production of chickpeas, peas and lentils in Brazil. “Chickpeas, for example, have been gaining visibility - which is reflected in the growing interest in the grain on the part of the production chain, seen in several Brazilian regions - thanks to research that resulted in several cultivars, with the appropriate productivity characteristics and resistance to diseases and pests”, he highlights.

World Pulse Day

The establishment of the date is an initiative of FAO, the United Nations body for food and agriculture, which highlights the role of pulses as sustainable and healthy foods.

Beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas are grains considered pulses, dry legumes, non-oil seeds, rich in proteins, fiber and vitamins.