This article appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Pulses are grown in virtually every corner of the globe. They have a strong history of nourishing people around the world for centuries.

Along with the early cereal grains, pulses were among the first crops cultivated as far back as 11,000 years ago.

In the past three decades, global pulse production has grown rapidly. In the past 10 years alone, the world has produced between 50 and 60 million tonnes of pulses each year.

Overall there were nearly 173 countries in the world that grew and exported pulses between 2010 and 2013! As of 2015, the world’s biggest producers of pulses were India, Canada, Myanmar, China, Nigeria, Brazil, Australia, USA, Russia, and Tanzania, while the world’s most important pulse exporters also include Argentina, France, Ethiopia, and Turkey.

Canada is the world’s largest exporter of peas and lentils. Canadian pulses are exported to more than 150 countries around the globe. Pulses contribute more than $3 billion each year to Canada’s economy, and qualify as the country’s fifth largest crop.

To learn more, visit www.pulses.org.