Miller Magazine Issue: 143 November 2021

79 INTERVIEW MILLER / november 2021 What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global pulses market? I can mark with confidence that the COVID-19 has affected the consumption of legumes, but in defense of pulses, we can also note a decrease in the consumption of meat, poultry, and fish. During this pandemic, we see them avoid meat and poultry products, but there is no empirical ev- idence yet. Also, the demand for beans and other crops from biofuel producers is making a tangi- ble contribution to the rise in prices, Bloomberg notes. The world today faces a challenge: achieving food security and providing balanced nutrition for the entire population of the planet. The statis- tics are disappointing: about 800 million people suffer from chronic hunger and about two billion from deficiencies of one or more micronutrients. At the same time, more than half a billion people are obese, and disease such as cancer is also gaining momentum. More and more consum- ers are turning to legumes as a source of plant- based protein. What are legumes remarkable for? These are Nutrition and Health, Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Food Security. Who are the key players in the pulses market? • Australia • Brazil • Canada • China • India • Russia • Myanmar PEOPLE ARE SWITCHING TO PLANT FOODS Plant-based meat made from pulses is be- coming popular. Can you share some infor- mation on the growing plant-based protein market and your opinion about its future? More and more people are cutting down on meat consumption. They change diets for a variety of reasons: environmental concerns that are detri- mental to conventional animal husbandry; taking care of your own health or taking care of animals. In economically prosperous countries, a growing Production of major pulse crops in Russia and Ukraine