The Pulse Crop Health Initiative (PCHI), administered through the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, ND was inaugurated in fiscal year 2018.  The goal of the Initiative is to use cooperative research on pulse crops (dry beans, dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas) to provide solutions to the critical health and sustainability challenges facing the citizens of the United States and the global community.

Expected outcomes of this Initiative are to discover and promote the health and nutritional benefits of regular pulse consumption, to enhance the sustainability of the global food supply through optimized production of pulses, and to increase the consumption of pulses through enhanced functionality of whole pulses and pulse ingredients in foods. 

The Initiative is guided by a Steering Committee that includes commodity group, food industry, health community, and ARS representatives. A comprehensive research plan has been drawn from a previously developed Pulse Health Initiative Strategic Plan, which arose from planning sessions that included industry, academic, and government representatives (available at https://www.usapulses.org/pchi). 

The PCHI research plan is the Initiative’s recommendation for how the USDA-ARS can most effectively employ the funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress for collaborative pulse crop research efforts that are of the highest national priority and scientific merit.

Contact Us:
Lanie Bilodeau, Acting Center Director 
lanie.bilodeau@usda.gov

Annette Fischer, Center Director Secretary
annette.fischer@usda.gov