Miller Magazine Issue: 147 March 2022

38 MILLER / march 2022 NEWS The cultivation of pulses, combined with the power of young people, can help achieve a transformation in our agrifood systems, said QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Na- tions (FAO), at a virtual event held to mark World Pulses Day. “Our agrifood systems need a paradigm shift,” said Qu, stating that “a focus on pulses can help us achieve this transformation, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The United Nations General Assembly designated 10 February as World Pulses Day after the success of the In- ternational Year of Pulses in 2016, which was implement- ed by FAO. The initiative has since been supported by many member countries. World Pulses Day seeks to raise awareness of the role of pulses in addressing food securi- ty challenges and their contribution to achieving a healthy and balanced diet. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Pulses to em- power youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems”. Currently, there are 1.8 billion young people in the world between the ages of 10 and 24 who have the creativity and energy for renewing perspectives and opportunities and, as Qu affirmed, it’s a potential we must tap into. “Puls- es contribute to creating livelihood opportunities and eq- uity, which are essential for sustainable agrifood systems. FAO strongly supports the youth to become drivers of pos- itive change,” Qu said. Young people can bring added value to the promotion of pulses by shedding light on new business opportunities along the value chain, including by driving innovations to transform agrifood systems and boost pulse-based sus- tainable production. Young people are the best stewards for pulse innovation and their receptiveness to innovation can trigger real change. THE POWER OF PULSES Pulses and legumes contribute to the sustainability of food systems and are one of the main enablers of healthy diets. They are essential for diversifying agricultural pro- duction systems contributing to Better Production, and are particularly important for sustainable crop production due to their ability to trap atmospheric nitrogen and improve the turnover of phosphorous, enhancing soil nutrient cy- cles and a Better Environment. Pulses are also an affordable source of protein for a large proportion of the world’s rural populations who may have limited access to diversified diets. These species are also nutrient-dense, providing substantial amounts of vi- tamins and minerals that are important for good health, contributing to Better Nutrition. World Pulses Day leverages the power of youth to transform agrifood systems