On February 7th, the GPC and the Permanent Missions of Burkina Faso, Canada and Turkey sponsored a World Pulses Day luncheon at the UN in Manhattan. GPC Executive Vice President Cindy Brown moderated the event and delivered the opening remarks. Gordon Bacon of Pulse Canada and Tim McGreevy of the American Pulse Association were also present.
Cindy highlighted how pulses fit in to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, recapped the efforts that led to the World Pulses Day declaration and thanked all those who made it possible.
“It is important that we recognize the numerous countries that joined with Burkina Faso in support of the World Pulses Day motion at the UN General Assembly,” said Cindy. “The broad support they provided shows the global importance of pulses as a sustainable food for the future.”
Other speakers included Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to the UN Eric Tiare, who underscored the importance of pulses to food security, and Canada’s Ambassador to the UN Marc-Andre Blanchard, who spotlighted the innovation taking place in the pulse sector. Turkey’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Raziye Bilge Koçyiğit Grba addressed the subject of pulse productivity and their cultural significance. And FAO New York Liaison Office Director Carla Mucavi highlighted the success of the International Year of Pulses and spoke of its enduring legacy.
