USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, in partnership with The Good Food Institute India, host a series of seminars on the future of pulses

2024-04-21 06:32:30 Events / Trade Shows

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June 12, New Delhi: The USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, in partnership with GFI India, hosted a seminar in New Delhi (June 8) and Mumbai (June 5) to discuss product development and global innovation in pulses' ingredients for food manufacturing. The technical seminar on the diverse applications of pulses in plant-protein processing and applications, particularly the plant-based sector, was followed by a panel discussion on how to mainstream pulses' ingredients in food processing and manufacturing in India.

Dr. Girish Ganjyal, Professor and Extension Food Processing Specialist at Washington State University (WSU), who led the technical seminar, spoke about the varied functionality of different pulses and how different protein isolates and concentrates are suited to a wide range of applications, including meatless products. He shared insights into key technologies like extrusion that can be employed to harness the potential of pulses in smart protein manufacturing and beyond.

Highlighting the need for such conversations, Astha Gaur, Policy Specialist - Regulatory at GFI India said, "There is an opportunity to innovate with pulses through crop optimization to improve the overall quality, digestibility, and nutritional profile of plant-based foods. While the Indian agri ecosystem is making progress ? and we have been supporting that through our indigenous agriculture initiatives ? it also requires support in the form of knowledge and technology transfer. Seminars such as this one contribute substantially, and we are grateful to USADPLC for their partnership."

The Good Food Institute India and USADPLC have been working together to raise awareness about the different functionalities and value-add of pulses and the many infrastructural bottlenecks currently existing in the Indian supply chain. The insightful seminar series was supported by leading industry bodies including India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (AFSTI), and Network of Professional of Food and Nutrition (NetProFan). The event saw broad participation from eminent startups, companies, and organizations in the food-tech industry including representatives from Marico, BVeg, Nestle, FICSI, Prolicious, Plantaway, Haldirams, and Pepsico, among others.

Sharing her optimism for the sector, Deeksha, Policy and Communications Consultant at GFI India, said, "India's biodiversity in crop cultivation and the possibilities of utilizing sustainable, nitrogen-fixing, protein-rich crops like pulses as functional ingredients are starting to see enormous promise in the smart protein sector, also known globally as the alternative protein sector. India can play a major role in the supply chain for this future global market by increasing pulse production and processing for ingredients manufacturing using the latest technologies."

"R&D in protein processing must focus on taste, texture, and nutrition as they are the most important parameters for consumer acceptance of meat alternatives and other formats," said Mr. Guillermo Mancebo, SVP, Global Sales and Business Development at PURIS Foods when talking about bringing functionality to pulses for different applications.

The seminar also saw dedicated one-on-one sessions between companies, and Dr. Ganjyal and Mr. Mancebo to discuss existing challenges related to product manufacturing, supply chain localization, and the many possibilities with pulses ingredients for the manufacturing of products.

About GFI India

The Good Food Institute India (GFI India) is the central expert organization, thought leader, and convening body in the Indian 'alternative protein' or 'smart protein' sector. As part of an international network of organizations with partners in the U.S., Brazil, Europe, Israel, and Asia Pacific, GFI India is on a mission to build a secure, sustainable, and just global food future. With unique insight across science, business, and policy, we are using the power of food innovation and markets to accelerate the transition of our food system toward alternative proteins. In building the sector from the ground up in India, we're aiming to establish a model for its growth all across the developing world.

About USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council

The USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council (USADPLC) was established in 1965 as a non-profit organization to promote and protect the interests of growers, processors, warehousemen, and sellers of dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas in the United States. Today, USADPLC maintains and develops new markets with new product launches, informative and awareness campaigns and promotions for top-grade U.S. products. They facilitate and fund research for improved varieties, developing new products, and deciphering nutrition profiles of commodities.