Pulse Health Alliance/Alianza Leguminosa Debuts in Peru

In 2021 USDBC inaugurated a new program focused on the consumption of dry beans and other pulses specifically for health and nutrition. The program is funded as a special Global Broad-Based Initiative (GBI) by USDA/FAS. This means it is more policy-focused and includes more than one commodity, in this case, dry beans, peas, lentils, and garbanzos. The program is based in Mexico in response to declining dry bean consumption per capita and a health epidemic caused by unhealthy eating habits. However, the program seeks to focus on common themes of health and nutrition that are applicable to numerous countries throughout Latin America. All program content including social media, print media, workshops, and webinars, is in Spanish. The Alliance/Alianza has held a few very well-attended workshops in Mexico, as well as some virtual webinars. Last week for the first time, the Alianza held an introductory workshop in Lima, Peru with numerous speakers on different aspects of dry bean and pulse nutrition in general and specific to Peru. The workshop was attended by almost 60 in-person participants and almost 100 online as it was a hybrid event. USDBC has been focusing more on market opportunities in Peru as it is a bean-consuming nation, it is import-dependent, has an excellent trade relationship and free trade agreement with the US, and has recently been increasing imports of US dry beans. The Alianza events have been well attended and well received in Mexico and Peru and we look forward to future events and expansion to other countries in the Americas.