Beans: a crop to invest in

Schiek, B.; Bonilla-Cedrez, C.; Prager, S.D. (2021) Beans: a crop to invest in. Policy Brief no. 55. Cali (Colombia): Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. 6 p.

From both an economic and nutritional perspective, the common bean is under-represented in the diets of low-income populations. This shortfall is reflected in high bean prices and chronic deficiencies in protein and key nutrients, seen across the developing world. Future demand for beans, meanwhile, is projected to increase, as incomes rise and rural-urban migration increases. Investment in the development of common bean varieties and value chains has the potential to offer substantial food security and economic benefits to these populations.