Recipient Organization
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
240 FRENCH ADMINISTRATION BLDG
PULLMAN,WA 99164-0001
Performing Department
Office of International Progs
Non Technical Summary
In June 2019, Washington State University (WSU), in partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), will host the Emerging Opportunities for Pulse Production: Genetics, Genomics, Phenomics, and Integrated Pest Management conference in Pullman, WA. The conference will develop transdisciplinary research and facilitate knowledge and technology transfer among national and international members of the pulse research community. Specifically, the conference will identify research efforts to increase pulse crop production while enhancing profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems in the U.S. and abroad.Pulse crops, including dry pea, lentil, and chickpea, have served as important components of human diets for millennia, being relatively rich sources of calories and protein. In addition, pulses also have a very low 'water footprint' per unit of calories and protein produced, which makes them attractive crops for water limited environments. In the U.S., pulse crops are produced across the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, and Midwest, primarily for export. In 2017, dry beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas accounted for more than $1.5 billion in production value[1]. Increased global demand for pulses has led to immense increases in the production of several pulses across the U.S.Research on issues that impact pulse production is conducted both in the U.S. and abroad primarily by scientists from national research agencies, non-governmental organizations, public universities, and private sectors. Considerable research efforts in the U.S. are conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). Conference participants will include national and international authorities of diverse fields in pulse research, including breeding and genetics, disease management, quality and nutritional characterization, biological nitrogen fixation, and sustainable crop production systems. The participants have expertise in several globally important pulses, including chickpeas, cowpeas, dry beans, dry peas, and lentils. Participants will also include industry trade representatives and leaders of the private sector in pulse industry.Scientific capacity and partnerships resulting from the conference will contribute to impactful, efficient scientific progress that unlocks the potential of pulses for agricultural sustainability and human well-being. Conference findings will be documented and disseminated in a white paper for the pulse community, both for domestic issues and global engagement. The potential long-range improvement in and sustainability of U.S. agriculture and food systems will result in safe and nutritious food security in a growing world.[1] National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 2018. www.nass.usda.gov. Verified 7/12/18.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
25%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the Emerging Opportunities for Pulse Production: Genetics, Genomics, Phenomics, and Integrated Pest Management conference is to develop transdisciplinary research and facilitate knowledge and technology transfer among national and international members of the pulse[1] research community. Specifically, the objective is to conduct a scientific conference focused on identifying transdisciplinary research efforts that integrate plant breeding, genomics, phenomics, and pest management to increase pulse crop production while enhancing profitability and sustainability of agricultural systems in the U.S. and abroad.As stated in the 10-Year Research Strategy for Pulse Crops[2] from the Global Pulse Confederation, "Increased production and consumption of legume crops [are] essential if global agriculture and food systems are to stay within planetary boundaries." This statement represents both an urgent call to action and a profound opportunity for improving the lives of people globally. The Research Strategy was created through a global network of public and private sector actors to develop a consensus of the challenges and opportunities for the global legume community moving forward into the next decade. It represents an opportunity to increase production and utilization of pulse crops to address demand for plant-based proteins in human diets while at the same time addressing the challenges of variable weather and changing global climate patterns. As such, a central long-term goal for global legume utilization is to advance breeding and genetics of varieties that, when paired with improved management, will increase productivity and resilience of integrated cropping systems. Collaboration anchored in networks of scientists, government partners, and industry players is key to these research efforts around germplasm resources (including genotyping and phenotyping), crop improvement (including climate resilience), and integrated cropping systems (including integrated pest management).Global SignificanceLegume crops are uniquely helpful for minimizing or ending hunger, achieving food security, improving the nutrition and well-being at all ages, and establishing a cornerstone for any future global sustainability of agriculture. Greater integration of legume crops into farming systems is important for providing food and nutritional security for people and livestock and benefitting local soils. In agropastoral systems, they can contribute to diversity and soil enhancements, while providing feed and fodder alternatives. Legumes can play a major role in combating the food-related global epidemic of malnutrition. Legume crops are often a critical source of protein for many of the poorest people on Earth and provide fiber and micronutrients. Legumes can be a low-cost local supplement for reducing the risks of stunting in children during the first 1000 days of life and reducing the many subsequent social and health disadvantages that stunting brings. Legumes, in the diets of people of all socioeconomic levels, are key for reducing chronic disease risks--including diabetes and heart disease--and maintaining healthy body weights and gut microbiomes. They are increasingly essential as a response to changing climate, in conditions of lower and highly variable rainfall and high temperatures that increase the risks of crop reduction and failure. Legumes have low carbon and water-use footprints compared to livestock and other essential protein resources, and are cost-effective and feasible for minimizing farmer risks and maximizing food resilience.[1] All pulses are legumes, but not all legumes are pulses. Nonetheless, for ease of discussion, the terms will be used interchangeably throughout the Initiation Report.[2] Sivasankar, S., Ellis, N., Buruchara, R., Henry, C., Rubiales, D., Sandhu, J.S. and Negra, C. 2016. 10-Year Research Strategy for Pulse Crops. Global Pulse Conference
Project Methods
The workshop will be held at Washington State University (WSU) in June 2019, co-hosted with Michigan State University (MSU). WSU is located in Pullman, WA, which is part of the region of southeastern Washington and northwestern Idaho known as the "Palouse'. Dry peas have been grown commercially in the Palouse for over 100 years, while lentils have been produced in the region for over 70 years and chickpeas for more than 30 years. The United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit is located at WSU. The unit has focused research efforts for much of the past 40 years on developing improved varieties of peas, lentils, and chickpeas and designing integrated management approaches for controlling diseases of these crops. The research unit has developed and released several commercially successful cultivars of peas, lentils, and chickpeas. These include 'Sierra', the most widely grown chickpea cultivar in the U.S., and the recently released large seed chickpea cultivars 'Nash' and 'Royal', lentil cultivars 'Merrit', 'Essex', and 'Avondale', and the green pea cultivar 'Hampton'.Research is conducted at WSU on pulse breeding, disease management, fertility and soil biology, sustainable cropping systems, and functional characterization of pulses. Five USDA-ARS scientists with the research unit are adjunct professors at Washington State University and conduct field research at the WSU Spillman Farm, also located in Pullman, WA. The farm annually has the largest pulse yield traits in the U.S., in which public and private sector breeders evaluate promising cultivars and breeding lines of chickpeas, lentils, and peas.For over three decades, Michigan State University has held the management entity for the Bean Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP), Dry Grain Pulse CRSP, and the Feed the Future Legume Innovation Lab for Legume Systems Research. Thus, MSU has held a long-term commitment to furthering the global pulse research agenda, especially in the areas of beans and cowpeas.Several faculty within the Crop and Soil Sciences Department at Washington State University conduct independent and collaborative research and extension efforts in areas of pulse crop production including variety trials, biological nitrogen fixation, remote sensing, and weed control. Variety trials are also conducted at the University of Idaho, which is located in Moscow, ID, approximately eight miles from WSU. USDA-ARS scientists and Washington State University faculty actively mentor graduate and undergraduate students that conduct research on pulse crops under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions.In addition to federal and university research efforts on pulse crop production conducted at Washington State University and nearby University of Idaho, the Pullman region is also home to the headquarter offices of the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council (USADPLC), the principle stakeholder group representing the pulse crop industry in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains. Proximity of USADPLC to WSU and the conference will ensure interactions between scientists and industry stakeholders while providing opportunities for stakeholders to communicate industry research priorities and contribute to the development of transdisciplinary research efforts. USADPLC has a Research Committee that annually prioritizes specific areas of pulse research and legislative actions at the federal level that impact pulse research. For the USADPLC fiscal year 2018-2019 there were four research priorities: 1) Breeding and Genetics, 2) Nutrition and Health Benefits, 3) Crop Management and Sustainability, and 4) Product Development.WSU is located in a region of intensive pulse crop production, which is also home to several commercial facilities nearby that process pulses, including Pacific Northwest Growers Farmers' Cooperative (Genesee, ID) and Hinrich's Trading Co. (Pullman, WA). Representatives from these commercial interests will participate in the workshop and provide workshop participants with the opportunity to tour a commercial pulse processing facility.The dates for the conference coincide in general with the time in the growing season associated with maturity and harvest of peas, lentils, and chickpeas. This will give workshop participants the opportunity to tour field locations where research is being conducted on pulse variety development, genetics, and disease control. Proximity to significant stakeholder and industry research partners that support research will guarantee their participation in the workshop and increase benefits the workshop will confer to advance pulse research both in the U.S. and abroad.Proposed ProgramFor the two days of activities, there will be a set of themes for presentations (e.g., "omics" and breeding, increasing yields, future challenges and opportunities for the pulse research and industrial communities) along with poster sessions. Graduate students/post-docs will be invited to deliver some of the presentations to ensure opportunities for early career professionals. Day Two will consist of breakout sessions that result in recommendations for U.S. and international pulse growers and researchers.Day 1The meeting will open with one keynote speaker (30 min presentation), followed with sessions on the state-of-the-art of (1) genomics/proteomics and (2) phenomics of legume cropping systems. A third session on Day 1 will focus on breeding, as well as future opportunities for the research and industrial communities. Following Session 3, participants will tour greenhouse facilities at WSU where research is conducted on remote phenotyping of pulses and disease resistance screening. The day will conclude with a hosted reception/dinner where participants can continue networking.Day 2A morning session (started by a plenary speaker) will focus on productivity gains, including but not limited to, management of diseases and pests. After this session, participants will tour WSU Spillman Farm, where scientists from the USDA-ARS, WSU, and private sector conduct field research. The tour will include yield trials for chickpeas, lentils, and peas, along with visits to disease screening nurseries and genetic mapping populations. The conference will conclude after lunch with breakout sessions, during which participants will make recommendations for a roadmap to improve fundamental components of genomic, phenomic, and IPM research in dry grain pulses.