May 11, 2015 – DUBAI – For the second consecutive year, the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC) is delighted to announce Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) as a major sponsor of GPC’s activities for the 2016 International Year of Pulses (IYOP) campaign. SPG reaffirms its commitment to the IYOP with a new contribution of $330,400 to support the many projects and activities that GPC and its partners are organizing to celebrate the International Year.
“SPG is pleased to make this investment into GPC’s IYOP programs,” says Tim Wiens, SPG’s Board of Directors Chair. “IYOP is an opportunity for all parts of the pulse value chain to contribute. As growers we are investing in GPC’s IYOP activities to build new demand for our crops, making the entire industry more profitable.”
In December of 2013 the UN General Assembly declared the year 2016 as International Year of Pulses. In December of 2013 the UN General Assembly declared the year 2016 as International Year of Pulses. The GPC, including farmers, processors, and traders of pulses, is organizing a wide range of events and projects that will focus on the role that pulses can play in addressing some of the greatest challenges that we face today such as food nutrition and food security, productivity and environmental sustainability, as well as pulse market access issues.
The funds will support projects from three of the thematic areas, starting with the funding of a consumer focused website, a global media outreach campaign and the creation of promotional videos, all fundamental activities of the Creating Awareness committee. SPG has also destined funds to support the advocacy mission to support reform of Codex as a long term way to improve trading of pulses and other crops.
Noting the importance of the research in the areas of productivity and sustainability, SPG will also fund several activities of the committee created for this topic, including a symposium with the American Society of Agronomy, and the production of a case studies report to demonstrate the barriers for adoption of pulse production in rotations agricultural systems worldwide.
“Many of the projects in each GPC’s IYOP theme area are in direct alignment with SPG’s strategic plan,” says Carl Potts, SPG’s Executive Director. “With a significant focus of IYOP being placed on building new demand for pulses, we see Saskatchewan farmers having an opportunity to increase profitability through being a key supplier to these new markets.”
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Contact for further information:
Gavin Gibson, Executive Director Global Pulse Confederation: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rachel Kehrig, Director of Communications & Market Promotion Saskatchewan Pulse Growers: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paulina Ceballos, Global Pulse Confederation Secretariat for International Year of Pulses activities, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About SPG
Accountable to and funded by growers, SPG’s strategic direction is guided by a seven member, grower-elected, Board of Directors. SPG’s mission is to provide leadership for a profitable Saskatchewan pulse industry through research, market development, and communications.
About GPC
The Global Pulse Confederation is the not for profit peak body for the whole global pulses industry value chain. As the sole international confederation for the industry it enjoys membership from 18 national associations (federations) and over 600 private sector members in an industry worth over $100 Billion at the retail level and over 60 million tonnes in pulse production and distribution in over 55 countries.