We are proud and excited to advise that on December 21st 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York voted to proclaim the International Year of Pulses 2016 (IYP). This is the culmination of almost two years of work by members of the voluntary Executive Committee of the global pulse industry peak body, GPC, which has been working with its national association member governments and the private sector over this time to raise the profile of pulses within the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO). It follows unanimous votes in favour of declaring the IYP 2016 by the FAO in April and June 2013.

An International Year designation provides an unprecedented opportunity to raise awareness and to celebrate the role of beans, chickpeas, lentils and other pulses in feeding the world. Even more importantly, it will be a galvanizing moment to draw together key actors to further the contributions pulses make to health, nutrition, and sustainability.