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Increasing Pulse Consumption to Improve Human Health and Food Security and to Mitigate Climate Change

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Climate Change-Resilient Agriculture and Agroforestry

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

Human food security requires both the production of sufficient quantities of high-quality protein and dietary change. This is particularly relevant given the present concurrence of rising human population, climate change and changing consumption habits. Pulses are recognized as being readily available sources of protein, complex carbohydrates, fibres, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, pulses, as well as other legumes, have the exceptional capacity of significantly increasing soil fertility, yields of companion or subsequent crops, biodiversity, environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Despite this, the use of pulses for food purposes is low in Western Europe, where pulses are mainly used for feed. This chapter reviews some of the environmental, nutritional and health benefits of pulses, and presents the main results of a campaign developed in a food service setting as an example of ways to increase the amount of pulse consumption. Results show a high acceptability of pulse consumption, whenever food services present alternatives to meat protein based on pulse protein.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank José B. Cunha from Oporto British School for revising English usages and grammar throughout the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eurest Portugal, Compass Group PLC, GreenUPorto, Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Food Sciences and Nutrition, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Beatriz Oliveira

  2. GreenUPorto & LAQV/REQUIMTE, DCeT, Open University of Portugal, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Pinto de Moura

  3. GreenUPorto & LAQV/REQUIMTE, DGAOT, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua da Agrária, 747, Vila do Conde, 4485-646, Vairão, Portugal

    Luís Miguel Cunha

Authors
  1. Beatriz Oliveira
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  2. Ana Pinto de Moura
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  3. Luís Miguel Cunha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Pinto de Moura .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Paula Castro

  2. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anabela Marisa Azul

  3. Faculty of Life Sciences, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  4. Department of Biology and CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ulisses M. Azeiteiro

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Oliveira, B., de Moura, A.P., Cunha, L.M. (2019). Increasing Pulse Consumption to Improve Human Health and Food Security and to Mitigate Climate Change. In: Castro, P., Azul, A., Leal Filho, W., Azeiteiro, U. (eds) Climate Change-Resilient Agriculture and Agroforestry. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75004-0_2

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