www.fao.org/pulses-2016/en/ International Year of Pulses - Global Dialogue - IYP Thematic Presentations - Hans Martin Dreyer, Director Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO

2. Hans Dreyer, Director
Plant Production and Protection Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2
Pulses:
A transition towards a transdisciplinary solution
combining
agronomy, ecology, nutrition and socio-economic sciences

3. 3
Main outcomes of IYP regional dialogues
Investments in research and
development need to be increased !
Policies related to pulses
need to be reviewed !
Increase awareness on pulses,
educational programs
for school children !
Platforms for sharing knowledge
on pulses to be developed !
Pulses research & extension
specialists to be trained !
Pulses value chain to
be further developed !
Dialogues
Research
Policies
Awareness
and
education
Value chain
Capacity
development
Knowledge

4. 4
Research funds in developing countries
25-50% of research funds
allocated for remaining agricultural crops
Murrell 2016; Knight 2000
50-75% of research funds
allocated to staple cereals

5. 5
Research funds in developing countries
Only a small portion of the remaining
budget is available for legumes
Murrell 2016; Knight 2000
Annual global funding for
all pulse crops is estimated
to be only USD 175 million

6. 6
Strategies to strengthen support for pulse research
 To enhance the function and provision of ecosystem services to bridge yield gaps
Adopt an ecological cropping systems management
 To develop high-yielding adapted varieties to breach yield ceilings
Establish a strategic research programme
 To exploit comparative advantages to achieved mutual goals
Increase collaboration between public and private sectors
 To resolve problems requiring analysis across economic, social and
environmental spheres
Promote transdisciplinary research
 To disseminate research results and innovations to a larger audience
Create a pulses knowledge platform

7. 7
Transdisciplinary research to increase pulse production and consumption
 develop adapted high yielding varietiesPlant breeding
 improve pre- and post-harvest technologyPlant production
 reduce knowledge gaps on nutritive valueNutrition
 better understand dietary patterns and
consumer’s preferences
Food systems
 better understand social and economic
aspects of pulse production
Socio-economics
 better understand ecological aspects of
pulses productionEcology

8. • Create a knowledge platform
• Conceive farmers-researchers network
• Create and update databases
• Produce scientific evidence on:
 ecosystem approach to sustainable crop production
intensification
 importance of pulses to support policies and programme
development
• Facilitating access to plant genetic resources
 needed for future breeding programmes
8
The role of FAO
FAO is a neutral forum which could help in:

9. 9
Thank you !
Contact us
AGP-Director@fao.org