Pulse production in the European Union is expected to grow at a steady clip over the next decade, reducing the need for imports, according to two industry officials. Cor Hage, trader with AGT Foods Europe, said EU pulse production is expected to expand to 6.3 million tonnes by 2030, up from about 4.5 million tonnes in 2020. The main growth will be in chickpeas, lentils and fababeans, he told delegates attending a recent Global Pulse Confederation webinar.
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In the short-term, he is forecasting an increase in pulse imports due to a disappointing 2021 harvest. But in the long-term he believes imports will fall as the EU becomes more self-reliant in the production of pulses. “We are at the starting point of considerable change in our agriculture industry,” said Hage. The main policy driver of that change is the Farm to Fork Strategy, which is at the heart of the European Green Deal. The strategy is aimed at making the EU’s agriculture sector more sustainable. Consumers are becoming conscious of the heavy carbon footprint of importing food from other regions of the world. “There is an increased interest for EU grown pulses that will continue,” he said. Greg Bartley, director of crop protection and crop quality at Pulse Canada, said the EU’s shifting policy direction presents both opportunities and challenges for Canadian farmers and exporters. The association believes Canadian pulses are a good fit with most sustainability initiatives. ...
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