Pulses: An Original Climate Solution Rediscovered By A New Generation

12 February 2026, Pakistan: Long before climate action became a global movement, farmers were already working with one of the most effective tools for sustainable agriculture: pulses. Lentils, beans, chickpeas, cowpeas, and other grain legumes have been part of food systems for thousands of years. Today, as climate pressures intensify and food systems face unprecedented challenges, a new generation is rediscovering why these crops matter and why they may be key to the future of agriculture. 

Across the Global South and beyond, young people are increasingly engaged in conversations about climate change, food security, nutrition, and sustainability. For many of them, pulses represent something powerful: a practical, affordable, and proven solution that aligns with the kind of food systems they want to build: resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart. 

A climate solution rooted in nature

What makes pulses so effective is not new technology, but biology. Unlike many other crops, pulses have the unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil through natural processes. This reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers, which are costly for farmers and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

In addition to improving soil fertility, pulses generally require less water than many staple crops and perform well in diverse and often challenging environments. These characteristics make them especially valuable in regions facing increasing droughts, soil degradation, and climate variability. 

For farming systems under pressure, pulses offer a way to strengthen resilience while maintaining productivity, benefits that are increasingly relevant as climate risks grow. 

Why the next generation is paying attention

For younger generations, climate change is not a distant concern; it is a defining reality. Rising food prices, environmental degradation, and uncertainty about the future have shaped how young people think about agriculture and food systems. Pulses speak directly to these concerns. 

They are affordable sources of plant-based protein and essential micronutrients, making them critical for addressing malnutrition and improving dietary diversity—especially in low-income and rural communities. At the same time, pulses fit naturally into diversified and sustainable farming systems, such as intercropping and crop rotation, practices that many young farmers and innovators are eager to explore. 

Around the world, young farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates are engaging with pulses not as “traditional crops,” but as tools for innovation. From experimenting with climate-smart cropping systems to developing pulse-based food products and value chains, this generation is finding new ways to connect agriculture, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. 

Pulses in diversified farming systems

At CIMMYT, research on pulses is closely linked to broader efforts to promote sustainable and resilient food systems. Pulses are often integrated into cereal-based systems, such as maize–legume or wheat–legume rotations, where they improve soil health, increase overall system productivity, and reduce environmental impacts. 

These diversified systems help farmers manage risk by spreading production across different crops, while also contributing to long-term soil fertility and ecosystem health. For smallholder farmers, especially those facing climate stress, pulses can be an essential component of both adaptation and livelihood stability. 

By generating evidence, supporting innovation, and working with partners across regions, CIMMYT helps ensure that pulse-based systems are not only scientifically sound but also practical and scalable. 

From fields to food systems 

The renewed interest in pulses goes beyond production. Young people are also reshaping how pulses are perceived and consumed. As plant-based and flexitarian diets gain popularity, pulses are increasingly recognized as nutritious, accessible, and climate-friendly foods. 

This shift matters not only for individual diets, but for entire food systems. Increasing demand for pulses can strengthen markets, create opportunities for farmers, and encourage policies that support sustainable agriculture. It also helps bridge the gap between what is grown in the field and what ends up on the plate, a connection that younger generations are particularly keen to understand and influence. 

An old solution for a changing world

The challenges facing global food systems are complex, but not all solutions need to be new. Pulses remind us that some of the most effective responses to climate change, soil degradation, and nutrition insecurity already exist and have existed for generations. 

What is changing is how these crops are valued and reimagined. As a new generation steps into roles as farmers, scientists, policymakers, and consumers, pulses are being rediscovered not as relics of the past, but as building blocks for climate-resilient, nutritious, and sustainable food systems. 

On World Pulses Day, this renewed attention highlights an important truth: sometimes, the path forward begins with recognizing the enduring value of what we already have. 

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