REGINA – Bean eaters are running out of gas.
Between 1998 and 2003, worldwide consumption of the legume fell by nearly two percent.
The decline was more precipitous in the European Union, with consumption falling more than seven percent during that time period, a Spanish pulse expert told delegates attending the Canadian Special Crops Association annual conference.
Valentin L—pez Gil, a senior official with Agrosa, Spain’s equivalent of Pulse Canada, said the only region where bean consumption is rising is the United States, where it was up eight percent.
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Per capita consumption in the U.S. is three kilograms per year, compared to one kg in the European Union. Globally, consumers eat their way through 2.2 kg a year.
Considering that the European Union consists of 25 countries and 450 million citizens, total bean demand in that region of the world amounts to 450 million tonnes. EU growers produce 268 million tonnes of product, leaving a 182 million tonne demand deficit.
L—pez Gil said Canada will continue to fill a good portion of that void, despite upcoming challenges.
Policy changes taking place in 2006 will decouple EU subsidies from specific crops, replacing them with generic farm subsidies. Edible beans now receive no farm aid. Under the new arrangement, edible beans will be on a more level playing field with alternative crops.
“In my opinion that will be one opportunity for the European farmers to develop dry beans,” said L—pez Gil.
But he thinks the increased acreage will be devoted to specialty beans, leaving ample opportunity for bulk bean shippers like Canada.
“The big market – white kidney, small kidney, cranberry – will continue the same.”
