The World Pulses Day is an annual event that falls on February 10.
Established in 2019 by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the day aims to encourage the production and consumption of pulses in our diet.
The purpose is to raise awareness about the importance of these foods which are essential for our diet as they are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, and can help reduce malnutrition in many parts of the world.
As mentioned, pulses have a high concentration of proteins with a low percentage of sugars and unsaturated fats. They are also a source of vitamins and minerals (for example, iron) and are ideal for maintaining low cholesterol levels in the blood.
Due to their nutritional characteristics, pulses are also considered a sustainable alternative to meat because their production has a lower environmental impact compared to that from livestock farming.
Growing legumes is much easier to manage compared to other crops and is accessible even to the poorest populations as these plants have a low water footprint and require little water to grow and can thrive even in environments with challenging climatic conditions.
This means that even in arid areas or areas prone to drought, the cultivation of pulses can facilitate access for populations to nutritious foods and thus represent an important food source for local communities.
Furthermore, the role of natural fertilizers that these plants have always played in agriculture should not be underestimated: they are essential in crop rotation because they are nitrogen-fixers, i.e., capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, thereby increasing its fertility.