World Pulses Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/73/251
About World Pulses Day
World Pulses Day is observed on 10 February. The United Nations General Assembly established the annual observance through resolution A/RES/73/251, adopted on 20 December 2018.
The day highlights pulses such as beans, lentils, chickpeas and peas as nutrient-dense foods and as crops that can contribute to diversified diets, soil health and more sustainable agrifood systems.
Why World Pulses Day matters
Pulses connect nutrition, farming and environmental questions. Their value is not limited to plant protein: many pulse crops can support crop rotations and biological nitrogen fixation, while their shelf life can make them useful in resilient food systems.
A responsible observance should avoid treating one crop as a universal solution. Local diets, water availability, farming systems, affordability and cultural preferences all shape how pulses can contribute to food security.
History of World Pulses Day
The observance builds on the International Year of Pulses 2016, which was led by FAO and increased international attention to the nutritional and environmental value of pulses.
Burkina Faso proposed an annual World Pulses Day. FAO’s Conference adopted Resolution 10/2017 on 7 July 2017 and transmitted the proposal onward for United Nations consideration.
On 20 December 2018, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/73/251 and designated 10 February as World Pulses Day. FAO identifies 2019 as the inaugural observance and continues to facilitate the day with governments and partner organizations.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Year of Pulses
World Pulses Day was created after and explicitly builds on the success of the International Year of Pulses 2016.
Government of Burkina Faso
UN and FAO sources identify Burkina Faso as proposing World Pulses Day after the International Year of Pulses 2016.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/251
First documented observance
FAO describes its February 2019 event as the inaugural World Pulses Day celebration following the General Assembly proclamation.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
FAO states that it works with governments and partner organizations to facilitate the observance of World Pulses Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
How to Observe World Pulses Day
Cook a pulse-based dish and document how it fits the nutrition, cost and food traditions of the local community rather than presenting one recipe as universally appropriate.
Compare the role of pulses in crop rotations with another locally important crop and distinguish documented agronomic benefits from broad sustainability claims.
Reduce food waste by planning a meal around shelf-stable dried or canned pulses while following safe preparation and storage guidance.
Use FAO or another authoritative agricultural source to examine how pulse production, markets and consumption differ between regions.
World Pulses Day Facts
World Pulses Day is observed every year on 10 February.
The General Assembly established the day through resolution A/RES/73/251 on 20 December 2018.
Burkina Faso proposed the annual observance after the International Year of Pulses 2016.
FAO works to facilitate World Pulses Day with governments and partner organizations.
The reviewed first-party sources do not provide a source-explicit historical reason for selecting exactly 10 February.
World Pulses Day Messages
Happy World Pulses Day! May World Pulses Day be an invitation to enjoy food thoughtfully and credit the people and traditions behind it.
Celebrate World Pulses Day by learning the story behind the food, sharing it thoughtfully and giving credit to the traditions that shaped it.
May World Pulses Day bring good conversation, responsible enjoyment and a deeper appreciation of culinary culture.
Wishing everyone marking World Pulses Day a thoughtful, enjoyable and delicious observance.
World Pulses Day Quotes
“Pulses of the world: from modesty to excellence invites us to rethink the value of pulses and to recognize that they are versatile, nutrient-dense foods.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Food and Agriculture Organization — Conference 2017 report / Resolution 10/2017 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/73/251 (opens in a new tab)
FAO — World Pulses Day (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
Food and Agriculture Organization — inaugural World Pulses Day celebration (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — World Pulses Day background (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Pulses Day?
10 February The documented recurrence rule is: 10 February.
Does World Pulses Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Pulses Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: FAO / United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Pulses Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Government of Burkina Faso. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Is World Pulses Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: FAO / United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-07.
When was World Pulses Day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/73/251 on 20 December 2018 and designated 10 February as World Pulses Day.
Who proposed World Pulses Day?
United Nations and FAO sources identify Burkina Faso as the country that proposed the annual observance, building on the International Year of Pulses 2016.
Who facilitates World Pulses Day?
FAO states that it works with governments, the private sector, members, partner organizations, the public and youth to facilitate the observance.
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