May 21, 2026
Supply volatility, pressure on prices and shifting demand patterns dominated the discussions at the industry’s leading international gathering, once again placing pulses at the center of the conversation around global trade, food security and the future of our food systems.
Pulses 26, the annual convention organized by the Global Pulse Confederation, brought together more than 500 delegates from over 50 countries, once again consolidating its position as the most relevant event for the global pulse industry. This year’s edition, held in Orlando from May 11 to 14 and co-organized with USA Pulses, combined commodity-focused panels, keynote speakers from leading global organizations, face-to-face networking, and strategic discussions on trade, supply, demand, innovation, logistics and risk management, with a strong presence of traders, processors and exporters.
Over the course of four days, the main focus of the nine commodity panels revolved around supply and demand prospects. The discussions revealed an industry closely monitoring developments in India — particularly regarding its import policies and consumption trends — as well as the export competitiveness of Canada, Australia, Türkiye, Argentina and the Black Sea region.
One of the major recurring themes was geopolitical and climate-related uncertainty, with markets operating on tight margins and showing a high sensitivity to regulatory changes, logistics disruptions and crop availability. Discussions also addressed the impact of financial costs and the need to build more resilient and diversified supply chains. Competition among origins, along with the growth of certain consumption niches in Asia and Africa — though accompanied by trade volatility and uncertainty surrounding demand trends — were also key topics.
Innovation-focused discussions centered on export opportunities, plant-based ingredients and the positioning of pulses as strategic crops for sustainability, food security and regenerative agriculture.
Shipping & logistics and risk management also held a prominent place on the agenda. Experts analyzed the volatility of freight costs, disruptions caused by armed conflicts along strategic maritime routes, and the growing need to develop more efficient strategies for risk prevention and management in an increasingly unpredictable global environment. The conversation also highlighted the importance of face-to-face engagement and firsthand market experience in an increasingly digital trading environment, where overreliance on tools like WhatsApp can create additional risks.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of face-to-face engagement and firsthand market experience in an increasingly digital trading environment, where overreliance on tools like WhatsApp can create additional risks.
As has become tradition at GPC conventions, the social events played a key role in the overall experience. The welcome reception, gala dinner and other networking gatherings offered opportunities to strengthen business relationships in a relaxed atmosphere, including performances specially designed to pay tribute to icons of American culture such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, The Blues Brothers and other classics of American entertainment.
Another highly visible aspect of the event was the organization’s role in positioning pulses not only as agricultural commodities, but also as a pivotal element in the global conversation around nutrition, food transition and sustainability. The overall message was that, despite volatility, the structural demand for pulses continues to grow over the long term. And perhaps that was one of the strongest takeaways for attendees at Pulses 26: the sense that no matter what, the industry continues to find reasons to look to the future with confidence.
Pulses 26 / Global Pulse Confederation / pulse industry / global pulse trade / food security / sustainable agriculture
Disclaimer: The opinions or views expressed in this publication are those of the authors or quoted persons. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Global Pulse Confederation or its members.
