
Pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family. Pulses grow in pods and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recognizes 11 types of pulses: dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, chickpeas, cow peas, pigeon peas, lentils, Bambara beans, vetches, lupins and pulses nes. Pulses are very high in protein and fiber, and are low in fat. A growing global population, combined with factors such as changing socio-demographics, will place increased pressure on the world's resources to provide different types of food. Increased demand for animal-based protein, in particular, is expected to have a negative environmental impact, generating greenhouse gas emissions, requiring more water and more land. Addressing this "perfect storm" will necessitate the more sustainable production of existing sources of protein as well as alternative sources for direct human consumption. This is where essential plant-based proteins such as pulse protein come into the picture and are expected to expand at a significant CAGR.