Manitoba Pulse Growers

Our Farms

The Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA) is a producer organization working on behalf of the 3,000 Manitoba farmers who grow peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, faba beans and soybeans, and has a vision of vibrant profitable farms sustainably producing a variety of quality pulse crops to feed a healthy growing world. MPGA provides Manitoba pulse grower members with production knowledge and market development support, through focused research, advocacy and linkages with industry partners.

In 2011, MPGA committed to $427,000 to research projects for dry beans, soybeans, peas, and faba beans. Pulse acres continue to increase in Manitoba. Pulse crops are environmentally friendly as they are able to make their own nitrogen fertilizer using nitrogen from the air.

The Food We Eat

Pulses are also known and often referred to as legumes (plants with a pod). Pulse is the term for the edible seeds of legumes (plants with a pod), which includes:

• Dry peas
• Dry beans
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Soybeans

Pulse comes from the Latin word puls meaning thick soup. Beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas are all very nutritious. All pulses are very high sources of fibre, high in protein, nutrient dense, low in fat, an excellent source of folate, high in complex carbohydrates and an excellent source of iron if eaten with a source of vitamin C. These nutritional attributes make a pulse an important part of any healthy diet and can help maintain a healthy weight. Pulses have additional benefits for people who have diabetes, have high blood cholesterol levels, tend to be constipated, have celiac disease or who are vegetarians.

By definition, soybeans are not a pulse because their seed is not dry (it contains high amounts of oil), and while they are healthy, they are not as nutritious as edible beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas. MPGA includes soybeans in their portfolio because they are a legume and agronomically, they grow like a pulse – they are able to fix their own nitrogen and their seeds grow in pods. Soybeans are primarily processed for their oil, which is used in salad dressings, margarine, vegetable oil and shortening. Soybeans are also a great source of protein and are used in various food products such as tofu, milk, cheese, flour and edamame. Soybean consumption has been associated with the prevention of a few major health conditions, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis.

When you’re eating products made with pulses, you’re making a choice that is good for the environment. Pulses take less energy to grow than other crops, producing fewer greenhouse gases. Pulse crops are also one of the most environmentally-friendly sources of protein, contributing to sustainable food production by protecting and improving soil and water resources.

The Jobs We Need

Manitoba pulse producers create jobs for their families on the farm, and the entire pulse industry has created numerous jobs in related businesses including feed mills, seed and food processing plants, purchasing and selling companies, marketing firms, grain elevators, government, research facilities, and various crop input supply companies, including inoculants, pesticides and seed.

The Economy We Create:

Pulse growers are an important part of Manitoba’s economy. Presently there are 3,000 pulse producers in Manitoba. Manitoba is the largest producer of dry beans in Canada producing approximately 50% of the dry bean crop. In 2010, Manitoba produced over 778,000 acres of pulse crops – approximately 530,000 acres of soybeans and 248,000 acres of dry beans, peas, faba beans and lentils. Canada is the world’s largest exporter and one of the world’s largest producers of pulses and Manitoba pulse crops play a huge part in that role. In 2010, Manitoba’s soybean crop was valued at $26.97 million, our edible bean crop was valued at $43.49 million, and our pea crop was valued at $3.66 million. Most Canadian soybeans are destined for US, most edible beans are exported to Angola, US, UK and Mexico, and most peas are sent to China, Brazil, India and Venezuela.