International Year of Pulses

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that Australia is ready for pulses to take centre stage in 2016 in the United Nations declared International Year of Pulses;

2. Recognises that Australia is now a major player in the global pulse market and one of the world's largest exporters of pulses;

3. Highlights the importance of pulses within South Australia's agricultural industry; and

4. Raises public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition.

(Continued from 21 September 2016.)

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (20:40): On 20 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously to declare 2016 as the International Year of Pulses—and we certainly remember that announcement fondly—providing an opportunity to showcase pulses, such as chickpeas, dried beans (my favourite), lentils, and peas, and to celebrate their role in feeding the world. The South Australian government supports the International Year of Pulses.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Even though they've got no pulse themselves.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Order! Sorry. Pulses are an important food eaten in place of meat as a protein source in diets in many parts of the world. In this year of the pulse, it is hoped that more Australians will recognise the health benefits of including more pulses in their diets. Mr Simon Bryant, who is one of the state government's premium food and wine ambassadors, is also the Australian ambassador of the International Year of Pulses. In recent decades, our farmers have recognised the value of pulses in their farming systems. Pulse crops are a profitable component of sustainable crop production systems. Their benefits include fixing nitrogen, providing a disease break for cereals and enabling control of grass weeds.

In 2014-15, South Australia produced nearly half a million tonnes of pulses, with a farmgate value of $343 million, which contributed $263 million to our record level of South Australian food and wine exports of $5.2 billion. Lentils are now the largest pulse crop grown in South Australia, at around 150,000 tonnes, a farmgate value of $139 million and exports valued at $152 million. South Australia is now the largest lentil growing state in Australia, producing more than half of Australia's lentils. About three-quarters of South Australia's lentils are grown on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula.

The International Year of Pulses recognises the importance of pulses as a nutritious food and their importance to our farming systems. I commend this motion to the council.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (20:43): I rise to make a few brief comments in support of the motion of 2016 being the year of the pulses. As a former farmer, I was involved in growing pulses on our property in the South-East. One of the pulses that the Hon. John Gazzola did not mention was lupins which is, of course, another one of the very good crops that is grown across the state. He is correct that lentils are a particularly big part of the crop rotation now and this season, in particular, we have seen some magnificent crops of lentils across Yorke Peninsula. Like all commodities, there is a surge in supply in various parts of the world, so I think the price will not be quite as strong.

The reason I did want to stand up is that I had the good fortune to travel to several countries, two in particular, during the winter break. One was Argentina and their economy has been turned around, in one respect, by agriculture. They are now one of the world's biggest growers of soy beans, which is something we do not grow in South Australia, although there are some in Queensland and New South Wales. Certainly, it is a massive crop. I think some 800,000 tonnes of soy meal is now exported to Australia from Argentina.

On the way home, I called in to India and I met the world's largest trader in pulses, an Indian gentleman in Delhi who has 40 mills across India. He does not speak any English. His family has been trading pulses and lentils and all the other products for six generations, I think. I invited him to visit South Australia and I expect to have him here some time in mid-November. Unfortunately, as I said, he does not speak any English, but I hope if he is here when parliament is sitting that I will be able to bring him into the chamber so that we can recognise him. His company turns over some $US2.5 billion, so he is a major player in the world lentil market. With those few words, I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (20:45): I wish to speak in support of this motion and there is a broad range of reasons as to why I find this a very vetching topic. As a vegetarian, this is very important to me as a love of non-animal foods literally pulses through my veins. In fact, when I think about it, I get so excited I go positively lentil! It is my faba-rite topic. I am the kind of chick (pea) who feels passionate about this issue, so much so that it makes me want to dance like a pigeon pea with a Bambara bean. I am still not sure what that means but it is a pun, so let's just roll with it.

I try to think about other things, I really do, but my mind just keeps lupin back to pulses. Now, there may be some a-mung us who do not think this is the most important issue for this parliament to be discussing right now, Mr President, but let me tell you that those people are soy-ly mistaken. We are not in the navy now, and in 2016 in the International Year of Pulses there has never bean a better time to recognise the hard work and contribution which this industry makes to this field (pea) and to our beautiful state. In fact, the welcome annual cash injection into the economy from these crops helps keep the economy regular. Okay, that one might have been a bit of a stretch.

It may well be that our very own catering division—dare I suggest it—could sprout forth with an innovation of a fully formed vegetarian menu for the good of animals, the good of our health, the good of our planet and the good of our great state. Before I close, I will end with a disclaimer. I have it on good authority, I think from the Pulse Australia official website, that soy is not technically regarded as a pulse, so before I am dragged up before you, Mr President, for misleading the parliament, I just wanted to clarify that. However, never ever in my life have I ever let the truth get in the way of a good pun.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (20:47): I am speechless! Thank you very much to the Hon. Kelly Vincent for her most entertaining contribution to recognise 2016 as the United Nations declared International Year of Pulses. I also thank the other speakers, the Hons John Gazzola and David Ridgway, for their contributions in support of this motion. I wholeheartedly commend this motion and thank you very much.

Motion carried.