Mirjana Gurinović, Eleonora Dupouy

Report from IYP Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia

FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Budapest , Hungary University of Belgrade, Centre of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism,

Belgrade, Serbia

• Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia, 12-13 October 2016 , Sapienza University of Rome, Italy : 70 stakeholders from 11 countries

• Experts from academia, research, international organizations, farmers and government representatives

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Executive Summary

• Objectives: - Understand the current state of pulses in the EuCA region- Discuss regional opportunities & challenges of pulse sector- Agree on common priorities for advocacy & pulses’ promotion- Identify knowledge gaps & research needs- Raise awareness on multiple benefits for nutrition, health,

environment

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Food security and nutrition in EuCA• Region’s specifics: heterogeneous in socio-economic level,

policies, lifestyle, consumption patters, challenges & needs, farm sizes, enabling environment

• Food insecurity level in most EuCA countries is below 5%, however still various forms of malnutrition persist:

- Overweight and obesity > 55% (obesity >20% ) - in 48 of 53 countries

- Child malnutrition in both rich and poor countries:stunting in children under five: 1.1 to 26.7%, wasting: 0.2 to 10.0%

• Malnutrition concerns: – Micronutrient deficiencies – Overnutrition– Unhealthy diets - main cause of NCDs

• In Europe pulses production decreased in the last 2 decades

• Only one EuCA country (RF) appear among 10th top global producers

• In Central Asia – lowest production and consumption in the region

• Share of pulses in total daily caloric intake across region very low: 0.2 - 2.82 % (prevail cereals, meat, diary products)

• Main utilization of pulses – feed for animals, especially in developed countries

However:• Raising interest of consumers for healthy, diverse

and quality diets

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State of pulses in EuCA

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• Lack of organization along the pulses value chain, low yields, high losses, small size of farms

• Lack of investment & new improved varieties, lack of mechanization in small farms, high share of manual work

• Difficulties with seeds quality assurance, problems with pulses’ marketing and price

• Non-commercial nature of pulses production in developing economies and low demand from consumers

• Governments’and farmers’ insufficient awareness of pulses benefits & insufficient support for farmers

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Regional challenges of pulses sector

• Shifting pulses production from subsistence to commercial farming in low producing countries & provide incentives

• Raising awareness on multiple benefits of pulses of farmers and mainstreaming pulses into national food security policies

• Involving farmers in dialogue, finding their perspectives & adopting a combination of bottom-up and top-down policies

• IYP-2016 impact on fostering inter-sectoral multi-stakeholders collaboration

• Agenda item on pulses at 30th ERC, Antalya, Turkey – opened new opportunities for governments’ attention and support

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Regional opportunities for pulses

• Promote collaboration between various stakeholders at national, regional and global levels, set celebration of World Pulses Day

• Promote investments in fundamental & applied research, innovate pulse-based products, study consumer demands and its determinants

• Research priorities: yield stability, reduction of post-harvest losses, develop new improved varieties (reduced cooking time, less anti-nutrients and flatulence compounds)

• Pulses’ production and consumption should be part of national food security policies.

• Collect, revive & promote traditional recipes and lifestyles

• Increase evidence for policy-making & programmes: data on food composition, agronomic properties, influence on soil, etc.

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Recommendations

• Develop platforms & fora for knowledge, data & agricultural practices sharing

• Provide farmers’ access to new technologies, improved varieties, mechanization, information, extension services (training, advises)

• Develop daily intake recommendations for pulses for general population, various age groups and groups with particular dietary requirements

• Develop targeted educational tools and programs for children and schools

• Strengthen seed system & plant-genetic resources conservation

• In breeding explore existing biodiversity before embarking on genetic modifications while taking nutritional composition into account

• Develop country profiles on pulses, nominate a country focal point

• Target higher participation in the next Regional Dialogue on Pulses

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Recommendations

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Thank youContact us

Pulses-2016@fao.org