Miller Magazine Issue: 128 August 2020

60 INTERVIEW MILLER / August 2020 opinion about its future? In the U.S., the annual retail food market grew only 2.2 percent in 2019, according to industry trade groups. However, according to the Plant Based Foods Associ- ation, plant-based foods sales increased by over 11 percent in the same period. Plant-based meats sales in U.S. have performed particularly well over the past few months. IRI retail sales data shows that plant-based meat experienced triple-digit sales growth—compared to the same weeks in 2019 but were particularly high in March due to pantry stocking. Do you think the pandemic could lead to stepping up consumer demand in plant-based protein? Yes, we expect the pandemic will result in increased consumer demand for plant-based proteins. Even before the pandemic, the plant-based protein market size was projected to grow from USD 10.3 billion in 2020 to USD 14.5 billion by 2025. With the pandemic causing new concerns about food supply chains, we expect more con- sumers to turn to plant-based proteins. And pulses will increasingly be the source for new plant-based products. Can you share GPC’s forecast for global pulse pro- duction and consumption for this year? We do not have precise numbers available as pulse crop production is still underway in the Northern hemi- sphere countries. We expect to see an increase in the production of lentils, faba beans, colored beans, white beans and black beans. Dry pea production is expect- ed to remain relatively flat. Global kabuli chickpeas production is expected to drop in response to excess inventories from prior years. On the demand side, we expect that global consumption of pulses will increase a minimum of 10% versus 2019. For some pulses such as beans, the increase in demand would likely be even higher but it is constrained by a lack of inventories. Which regions or countries do you see as potential new markets for pulses? In which countries/regions is the demand for pulses increasing? The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the highest annual growth rate in terms of the plant- based protein market. The young demographics in many parts of the Asian Pacific and growing interest in plant-based products have resulted in manufac- turers expanding their scope in the region. We ex- pect much of the new demand for pulses will come as a result of product innovations and globalization of eating habits. Let me give you an example. In Ja- pan, there is not a history of eating pulses in savory dishes. However, relatively recently western-style hotdogs with chili beans were introduced at thou- sands of 7-Eleven stores throughout Japan. And Starbucks introduced Tex-Mex wraps with beans at their Japan stores. As we increasingly see a broad array of new products featuring pulses such as alt- milks, yogurts, snack foods and even seafood, we will find great potential in not just Asia but all global markets. The USA is one of the top pulses exporters. I won- der how Americans interest in pulse consumption in their diets. What can you say about the pulse con- sumption trend in the USA? Per capita pulse consumption has increased signifi- cantly in the United States but much of that increase has been driven by value-added products rather than traditional home cooking. Products with chickpeas are super popular right now with hummus, pulse-based pastas and chickpea snacks all experiencing incredible growth over the past several years. In addition, as the Hispanic population in U.S. continues to grow, we have seen more Hispanic style products with black and pin- tos beans being offered by large food manufacturers. Lastly, the pea fractions market is growing astronomi- cally as evidenced by the number of new products and manufacturing facilities. Is there anything you would like to add? Personally, I want to encourage more women to be- come involved in agriculture and the pulses industry. It is a great profession with limitless potential. In terms of global markets, I want to make sure that national asso- ciations and individual company members continue to work closely with GPC to maintain market access for pulses and advocate for great inclusion of pulses in di- ets. And in terms of health and nutrition, I want to help spread the word to governments that including pulses in food distribution programs is a great investment as it will lead to better health of their citizenry and lower healthcare costs.