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Pulse crops: nutrient density, affordability, and environmental impact
Adam Drewnowski1, Zach Conrad2,3
1Center for Public Health Nutrition, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
Frontiers in Nutrition
|September 9, 2024
Summary
Pulses, including beans and lentils, are nutrient-rich, affordable, and environmentally friendly protein sources. These sustainable foods offer low costs, minimal greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced energy demand, supporting plant-based diets.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
Background:
- Sustainable foods must be nutrient-rich, affordable, environmentally friendly, and socially acceptable.
- Pulses (beans, lentils, chickpeas, dried peas) meet these criteria.
- Dietary shifts towards plant-based eating necessitate evaluating food sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the sustainability of pulses as a food group.
- To compare pulses against other protein sources based on nutritional value, cost, and environmental impact.
- To integrate pulse sustainability into global food frameworks.
Main Methods:
- Nutrient profiling methods focused on protein content.
- Analysis of food prices and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE).
- Utilized US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data for nutrient composition and food prices, and life cycle assessments (LCA) for environmental impact.
Main Results:
- Pulses demonstrated the lowest cost per 100g and 100kcal among protein sources.
- Pulses exhibited the lowest greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and energy demand.
- Pulses scored highly on nutrient density metrics like the Nutrient Rich Food (NRF9.3) system and the Affordable Nutrition Index.
Conclusions:
- Pulses are a highly sustainable protein source, offering affordability, nutritional benefits, and low environmental impact.
- Their culinary versatility and widespread acceptance further enhance their role in sustainable diets.
- Integrating pulses is crucial for aligning dietary guidance with global sustainability goals.
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