Castile and León will be in the international media spotlight when the February 10th, Valladolid hosts the official commemoration in Spain of World Pulses Daydeclared by the United Nations. The event will bring together institutional representatives, nutrition experts, researchers, chefs, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the Miguel Delibes Cultural Center.
This meeting will take place in a context in which Legumes are being promoted as an affordable, nutritious food and a key component of a more sustainable food system.In the midst of the global fight against hunger, malnutrition, and climate change, the event will serve as a reminder that these traditional crops can play a central role in the future of food in both Spain and Europe.
Castile and León, official host of World Pulses Day
The FAO has awarded the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León has been awarded the official status of World Pulses Day in the Kingdom of SpainThis will be the second time this event has been held outside the organization's headquarters in Rome, following the edition held in Peru, which underlines the importance of this designation for the Spanish agricultural sector.
The chosen meeting place is the Miguel Delibes Cultural Center of Valladolidwhich will become the stage for an international debate on the role of pulses in nutrition, sustainability, and food security. Throughout the day, a forum will be held with presentations, roundtables, and educational activities aimed at professionals and the general public.
The summit takes place in a worrying context: Nearly 800 million people suffer from chronic hunger and about 2.000 billion have essential micronutrient deficienciesWhile more than 500 million suffer from obesity, the FAO insists that legumes can help reduce these nutritional gaps thanks to their high plant protein content and their role in balanced diets.
The choice of Castile and León also represents a recognition of its historical link with the cultivation of chickpeas, lentils and beansas well as its commitment to the food security goals promoted by the United Nations. The regional government interprets the decision as a boost to the regional strategy of supporting the agricultural sector and local producers.
The entire official program for World Pulses Day will be available live via live streaming broadcasts open to all 194 FAO member countries, expanding the scope of the interventions and giving international projection to the message that originates from Valladolid.
Management and international recognition
The path to achieving this appointment has been the result of months of negotiations between the Regional Government of Castile and León and the FAOThe first formal contact occurred during the II National Uncover Legumes Championship, held in February 2025 and sponsored by the Tierra de Sabor quality brand.
At that meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Maria Gonzalez CorralHe conveyed to the FAO's pulses officer the proposal that Spain host a future edition of World Pulses Day. That conversation led to an intense exchange of information with the organization's directorate-general and with Spain's permanent representation to the FAO.
After several months of technical work and meetings, The acceptance of the candidacy was officially communicated on November 11.This confirms Castile and León as a European leader in the field. This decision has been interpreted as strengthening the region's image in the agricultural sector and as an opportunity to showcase the potential of rural areas.
The day's program is designed to combine institutional, technical and informative contentThe participation of nutrition specialists, agronomists, university researchers and representatives of entities in the agri-food sector is planned, who will address both the health, environmental and economic dimensions of these crops.
In addition, the presence of FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, together with senior officials of the organization and national and regional authorities, which will make Valladolid a top-level meeting point for the scientific and political community interested in the food of the future.
Queen Letizia and the institutional projection of the event
At the institutional ceremony, the FAO has issued a formal invitation to Her Majesty Queen LetiziaIn her capacity as Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition, she will deliver the welcoming remarks. Her intervention will serve to highlight the importance of legumes in the diet and reinforce Spain's commitment to healthy eating policies.
The official ceremony, which will open the day's events, will bring together government authorities, national and international experts, and representatives of multilateral organizationsSeveral keynote lectures and presentations are planned that will address major global food challenges and the role of legume crops in responding to those challenges.
One of the expectations is that the dialogue between the FAO, Spanish institutions and stakeholders in the sector will give rise to the so-called “Valladolid Declaration”A document intended to summarize the main conclusions of the meeting. The text could become a reference for future strategies on the production, consumption, and promotion of pulses on an international scale.
The closing of the day will be led by President of the Government of Castile and Leon, which will act as host of the events and will emphasize the economic, social and environmental importance of this type of crop for the rural areas of the community.
Alongside the institutional dimension, the organization has also sought to emphasize the informative and public awareness sectionRemembering that legumes are a traditional, economical and very versatile food in cooking, capable of adapting to both traditional stews and contemporary preparations.
Agricultural leadership of Castile and León in Spain
Castile and León arrives at this celebration with an undisputed leadership in the production of legumes at the national levelThe community accounts for approximately 38% of the state's land area dedicated to these crops, with some 164.000 hectares under cultivation.
In the last campaign, this surface area translated into a production close to 200.000 tonsThis figure positions the region as the breadbasket of legumes in Spain. A significant portion of this volume is protected by figures of differentiated quality that guarantee the origin, traceability and organoleptic characteristics recognized in the gastronomic field.
In this context, products such as the following stand out: chickpeas from PedrosilloThese diverse, high-quality lentils and various types of beans serve as a hallmark of many rural regions. These legumes are valued not only for their flavor but also for their importance to the regional agricultural economy and their ability to help retain population in the area.
The FAO emphasizes that Legumes provide vegetable protein, fiber, and remarkable nutritional stability.This makes them a fundamental component of healthy diets, especially in countries seeking more sustainable alternatives to animal protein.
From an agronomic point of view, its cultivation contributes to more environmentally friendly production systemsThey fix nitrogen in the soil, reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, and require less water than many sources of animal protein—key aspects in the face of climate change and water scarcity.
A program that combines science, cooking, and innovation
The official program for World Pulses Day in Valladolid will not be limited to the institutional protocol. Throughout February 10th, a variety of activities are planned. scientific and gastronomic forum which will address the role of legumes from a multidisciplinary approach, with the presence of researchers, nutritionists, agronomists and culinary professionals.
The day will include technical presentations, panel discussions and culinary demonstrations In these workshops, chefs and industry experts will demonstrate how to integrate these products into contemporary dishes while respecting tradition. The aim is to show that legumes can be much more than just a typical stew.
under the motto “Legumes, from modesty to excellence”The aim is to convey the idea that this food, traditionally seen as humble, can occupy a prominent place on menus of high-level restaurants and on balanced daily menus, both in Spanish and European homes.
Alongside the more technical sessions, emphasis will be placed on public health and sustainability messages, in line with the overall theme of World Pulses Day: “to promote more sustainable and resilient food systems”The aim is to encourage people to rediscover traditional recipes and to experiment with new dishes that incorporate chickpeas, lentils, and beans more frequently.
With this combination of science, outreach and cooking, the event in Valladolid aims to to revalue the production and consumption of legumes in Spain, while conveying a message with a global vocation about its contribution to a fairer and more sustainable food future.
III National Championship Uncover the Legumes Land of Flavor
One of the highlights of the program will be the final phase of III National Championship Uncover the Legumes Land of Flavor, which will also be held on February 10 at the Miguel Delibes Cultural Center as part of the official events.
This competition, considered Unique in Europe for its national character focused exclusively on legumesThe competition will bring together 17 finalist chefs, one from each autonomous community. For months, the participants have been working on tapas-style proposals that reinterpret traditional recipes with a creative approach.
The grand final will feature the live preparation of the tapas in front of a specialized professional juryThe judging panel will value technique, respect for the product, and innovative capacity. The preliminary selection of finalists was based on a combination of popular vote (50%) and evaluation by a culinary committee (50%).
Among the creations that will arrive in Valladolid, the chef's "Garbalau" proposal stands out. Iñigo Kortabitarte, from the Kobika restaurant, which will represent the Basque Country. It is a Tapas inspired by the classic Lenten stew, made with chickpeas from Pedrosillo with the Tierra de Sabor seal, presented in the form of a chickpea flour sorrentino filled with the crushed stew, on a crispy spinach base and with a touch of spicy paprika.
As for the prizes, the championship will award 4.000 euros for the winning chefThe second-place winner will receive €2.000 and the third-place winner €1.000, in addition to being recognized as national pulse champions. The awards ceremony will be part of the World Pulses Day events, reinforcing the link between haute cuisine and agricultural products.
Legumes: from traditional recipes to the future of food
The celebration of World Pulses Day will also serve to highlight their role in the everyday gastronomy and local food cultureMany local initiatives, such as markets and fairs, are taking advantage of the date to focus their offerings on these products after the usual Christmas excesses.
Under messages such as that “Legumes are not just part of the past, but a solution for the future”The aim is to promote their presence in the daily diet. On specific days, tastings, direct sales from producers, talks, and activities are organized to encourage the public to consume more dishes made with lentils, chickpeas, or beans.
These events put the spotlight on the local origin and differentiated quality of legumes, as well as in other products that usually accompany them at the table, from seasonal vegetables to artisanal preparations. All this with the aim of strengthening short supply chains and local gastronomy.
The FAO itself points out that legumes are a particularly interesting food for promote healthy diets at reasonable pricesThis is relevant for both Spanish households and those in lower-income countries. Their long lifespan, ease of storage, and versatility in the kitchen make them a year-round staple in the pantry.
With the international spotlight on Valladolid, Castilla y León will use this day to assert its role in the European agri-food mapto showcase the strength of its production sector and demonstrate, with the help of science and cooking, that legumes have a lot to say in the food of tomorrow.
The meeting on February 10th in Valladolid is thus shaping up to be a key occasion for institutions, farmers, chefs and researchers to launch a joint message: Legumes are a strategic resource for improving health, caring for the planet, and strengthening rural areas.And from Castile and León, they want to send that signal to the rest of Spain and the world.
