Pulse Canada applauds the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization for nominating Dr. Joyce Boye, a distinguished researcher and innovator from Canada, as FAO Special Ambassador for the International Year of Pulses (IYP) 2016._x000D_
_x000D_
The appointment was announced during an event hosted by the FAO Liaison Office for North America in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2016._x000D_
_x000D_
“I am very confident that the appointment of Dr. Boye as Special Ambassador will help spread the message that increasing the consumption of pulses can improve the quality of people’s diets and the health of the planet,” says Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada._x000D_
_x000D_
During her acceptance speech, Dr. Boye rallied her audience stating “I am humbled and delighted to accept this nomination of the FAO 2016 IYP Ambassador for North America and to work with the FAO to spread the word about the wonderful attributes of pulses. The International Year of Pulses is a great opportunity for farmers, food processors, consumers, governments and policy makers to come together to celebrate the many benefits of pulses and their contribution to global health, environmental sustainability and food security.” _x000D_
_x000D_
Dr. Boye also shared her vision of a world of opportunities and called the audience to “imagine a world where the options for food preparation are as diverse as the crops one could choose from”._x000D_
_x000D_
“Pulses have been nourishing people around the world for thousands of years,” says Bacon. “They are the perfect partner for healthy people and a healthy planet. They are a low fat, high fibre source of protein, and eating pulses can help manage health issues like diabetes and heart disease. Pulses are also a low carbon footprint food, are a water efficient source of protein, and are a key component of sustainable cropping systems.”
