Miller Magazine Issue: 128 August 2020

53 COVER STORY MILLER / August 2020 with various health benefits, the health-conscious consum- ers are increasingly incorpo- rating dishes made from puls- es into their everyday diets, in turn, propelling the growth of the global pulses market. When I scanned the bean division at a grocery store in shops these days, I saw some- thing I have never seen before: empty shelves. In one sense, this is like the best dream, who runs producing and packaging of beans. In another sense, you go, this is pretty serious. As the coronavirus pandemic upends daily life across Russia, the con- sumers are filling their pantries with long-lasting essentials — pasta, rice, canned meat, even oat milk. But amid all the panic shopping, the growing demand for beans has stood out as an especially potent symbol of the anxious and uncertain times. At supermarkets, shoppers are stocking up on canned beans from familiar brands, as well as thick bags of dry beans that usually lie largely untouched on store shelves. The Covid-19 pandemic scare, which continues to slow down the global economy, has led to a rise in the end consumer prices of sugar, pulses, and edible oils in the last days this time. The planting of the 2020 pulse crops has been done and I was analyzing the situation and the output is quite strange and understandable. With the last March demand surge, due to COVID-19, pulse prices have increased sending a signal to growers around the world. Being that this occurred just before the 2020 seeding cycle, there’s a good chance red lentil acreage all over the world will be up more than 30% over last year. Well, how I see the COVID-19 pandemic affecting pulse markets. As unfortunate as all the human stories are, the pandemic has ignited a very busy shipping period and I think this increase in demand will remain for the balance of the year. During this time of uncertainty, I think many consumers will favor cheaper proteins that can be stored and feed families for longer periods of time. There will also likely be even more household discussion and introduction of pulses and pulse foods into everyday diets. In my opinion the opportunities for market participants are: Globally, the pulses market is likely to witness signif- icant growth owing to the mounting consumer inclination towards healthy and nutritious food. The ecological sus- tainability of pulses is also one of the major factors driving the pulses market owing to the reduced emission of CO2 and reduction in the level of greenhouse gases. As this con- tributes to a global cause, governments of various coun- tries are encouraging the production of pulses at a global level. Moreover, the growers of pulses are also influenced by the global increase in the demand for pulses, which is expected to rapidly boost the global production of pulses. Furthermore, growth in the health-conscious population is also a major factor contributing to the growth of the pulses market as the demand for cholesterol-free and low-fat food ingredients is increasing. The leading players of the pulses market are trying their best to capitalize on the opportuni- ties available in the market owing to the increasing demand for protein-rich and gluten-free products. The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness high growth in the demand for pulses as a result of population growth. To sum up I would like to share some amazing recipe which will surprise you how easy and delicious the pulses could be. Make the lentil bean filling. Splash the canola oil into a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Toss in the onions, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Sauté until the vegetables soften and the spice flavors brighten, 3 or 4 minutes. Stir in the lentils, beans, water, and salt. Bring the works to a slow, steady simmer. Cover tightly and continue slowly cooking until the lentils are tender, 35 minutes or so. Stir in the hot sauce. Assemble the tacos. Fit a full leaf of lettuce into a hard taco shell. This will hold the fillings in when the hard shell inevitably breaks. Fill each taco with a heaping spoonful of the lentil bean filling. Pack with cheese, salsa, and cilantro. Serve with the lime wedges and share! Enjoy!