Four wooden spoons with dried peas and lentils

Unique farmer-driven funding model achieving the ‘im-pulse-able’

The Prairie pulse sector has developed from a few hundred acres to a few million

Reading Time: 6 minutes Sometime in the next year or two, University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre pulse breeder Bert Vandenberg expects the sector will quietly cross a very important milestone. In the early days people like him set themselves a lofty goal of capturing a significant number of acres with soil-building, protein-rich legume crops like field peas and […] Read more

Heather Maskus of Cigi works with customers to show how pulse flours can be blended in foods such as baked goods and pasta.

Canadian pulses for the world

Cigi will engage with industry on pulse quality during International Year of Pulses

Reading Time: 2 minutes In recognition of the United Nations declaration of 2016 as International Year of Pulses (IYP), several pulse-related events are planned in Canada and other countries in an effort to draw global attention to the use of pulses. Themes being promoted include food security, nutrition and innovation; creating awareness; market access and stability; and productivity and […] Read more


Broad bean green seeds lat. Visia faba. Fava bean

Fabulous fababeans

Good results for the past few seasons have led to increased interest in fababeans, but like any new crop, there are still a few hurdles to clear

Reading Time: 6 minutes After a false start in the 1970s, it looks like fababeans are back on the Prairies for good this time. Alberta farmers planted only 15,000 acres in 2012, but most estimates put acreage at well over 100,000 acres last season. This interest has crossed the border into Saskatchewan too, with more than 15,000 acres going […] Read more

Red lentils. (Pulse Canada photo)

India’s pulses under stress, need well-timed rain

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– India, the world’s largest producer of pulses, needs moisture before crops hit the reproductive cycle at the end of January, or existing losses will become amplified, a weather analyst says. The driest areas in India are important pulse-producing regions in northeastern Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, said Drew Lerner of World […] Read more


VIDEO: Cooking up good things with pulses

VIDEO: Cooking up good things with pulses

Canned chickpea water substitutes for egg whites in making macarons

Reading Time: < 1 minute While Canada grows copious amounts of pulses, most are exported. Chefs Geoffroy Dextraze and Chef Chris Kopp of Winnipeg’s Prairie Ink Restaurant and Bakery share their experiences developing new pulse recipes for the provincial launch of the International Year of Pulses. The event was put on by the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers and attended by […] Read more

Green peas. (PulseCanada.com)

Limited farmer selling keeping pea prices steady

Reading Time: 1 minute CNS Canada –– Prairie pea prices are steady, but farmers are holding out, according to one trader, as emerging new-crop bids grow in strength. “I think what’s moving prices is simply the expectation that (they) can’t go that much lower,” said David Newman of Victoria-area pulse trading and processing firm Commodious Trading. A lack of […] Read more


Adding yellow peas to a serving of cereal can boost its protein content by five times.

Peas — your morning cereal

Cereal manufacturers are looking to counter declining sales by increasing the nutritional content of their products

Reading Time: 3 minutes As the quality of processed foods faces greater scrutiny from consumers and media, the food industry has responded by focusing greater attention on improving nutrition in their products. Cigi (Canadian International Grains institute) is currently working with an international pulse task force led by representatives from major food-processing companies, food equipment manufacturers, millers, and the […] Read more

Red lentils. (PulseCanada.com)

Lentil prices just keep rising

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Lentil prices just keep moving up in Western Canada, with no end in sight to the rising market as end users work to book coverage. However, the high prices may prove unsustainable, especially in the long run, as values are already expensive for international buyers and strong new-crop prices should lead to […] Read more


white and black beans

New in food-grade and edible beans

Market potential and the new Canadian health claim may boost interest and production

Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s reputation for excellence in the production and quality of identity-preserved (IP) food-grade soybeans and edible beans is a well-known advantage to those growers who contract to grow these crops on a regular basis. High proteins, high sugars, and unblemished seed coats are among the marks of excellence that attract buyers from around the world. […] Read more