THE CICILS International Pulse Trade and Industries Confederation's vision for 2016 to be declared the International Year of Pulses is close to becoming a reality.
Having passed two of the three steps at meetings earlier this year with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the project now has to go to a formal sign-off at the UN General Assembly, likely to be held in December.
Confederation president Hakan Bahceci says CICILS IPTIC has put in place an interim committee to communicate with global members and the greater industry to ensure they are given an opportunity to share in the benefits IYOP will bring.
"The committee has already adapted a draft vision and mission, pending approval by FAO, and is now working to engage all sectors of our industry to further develop draft goals to be taken to the FAO for approval," he said.
"This will include a program dedicated to continuing improvement, leading to a sustainable increase in pulse production and consumption over 10 years.
"Targets are still to be determined but a doubling of global production has been tentatively selected."
Some of the goals for the IYOP focused on global food security and development of new products and methodologies that would improve nutrition and health for the bottom of the global health and wealth bracket.
*Full report in Stock Journal, October 24 issue, 2013.