The UN’s FAO have declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses. To tie in with this, last Tuesday The Vegan Society was invited to Parliament to celebrate the production and consumption of British pulses.
The event was hosted by the all-party parliamentary group on Agroecology for Sustainable Food and Farming, the British Edible Pulse Association (BEPA) and vegan MP, Kerry McCarthy. Kerry McCarthy spoke about the need to encourage a shift towards a more sustainable food and farming system.
Other speakers included food blogger and International Year of Pulses ambassador, Jenny Chandler, BEPA’s Vice-President, Franek Smith, and George Eustice MP, Minister for Farming and Food. Although they all sung the praises of pulses as the solution to a lot of the problems society faces, it was encouraging to hear a Farming Minister speak of the benefits of pulses, saying that “as well as playing an important role in health and nutrition, protein-rich pulses are important for food security and environmental sustainability.” There is clearly some recognition of the myriad benefits these superfoods have to offer.
On display were various British-manufactured pulse snacks, as well as vegan catering from London’s top vegetarian restaurant The Gate. The delicious food on offer provided a great opportunity for attendees to taste how good pulses can be, and show that they are not only a great addition to any meal, but that they can also be the star attraction. The fact that vegan food is being served at a parliamentary event is a really positive sign of how perceptions of veganism are changing.
The event brought together MPs, Peers and key stakeholders, including suppliers and growers, as well as environmental and health NGOs. It provided a great opportunity to meet and talk to a wide range of people with a shared aim, namely, to promote British pulses as a food source that positively impacts the climate, biodiversity, food security, soil health, and of course, the population’s health.
These aims are perfectly in-line with our own, as outlined in our Grow Green report. In the report, we call on the government to incentivise the production of plant-protein crops – like pulses – for human consumption as a way to tackle climate-change.
The Vegan Society’s Grow Green team will be working hard to make sure that all MPs are aware of these benefits, especially at this time of political uncertainty as Britain rethinks the role a domestic agricultural policy might play post-Brexit. You can help to make sure sustainable, climate-friendly farming, like the production of plant-protein crops for human consumption, are on the political agenda, by contacting your local MP here.
You can keep up to date with the team’s progress on our dedicated Grow Green Twitter page.
