Over 15 million Africans have died from AIDS (UNAIDS, 2003). Prevalence rates are expected to continue to rise, approaching 15% in several West African countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Cote d’Ivoire (Policy Project). The impact is felt directly and indirectly. Children left without mothers and teachers don’t thrive, and are forced to leave school to work. Dying agriculture workers negatively impact development efforts in Africa where 80% of the population depends on small-scale subsistence agriculture.

Eating beans and other pulses could be an inexpensive way to improve child nutrition and child survival, and possibly could mitigate the severe consequences of HIV/AIDS. Proving a relationship between the presence of beans and other pulses in the diet and positive health effects could benefit people living with HIV/AIDS, children suffering from malnutrition, national governments through reduced health care costs, and other sub-sectors in the value-chain, including small farmers who produce dry beans and other pulses.

The BHA is funding research to determine if improved health can be achieved by including bean and pulse-based foods in the diet. With the knowledge gained, we aim to work with organizations and ministries to promote consumption and to improve the nutrition status of communities.

The Global Developmental Alliance Secretariat and the Office of Economic Growth and Agriculture Trade (EGAT), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has entered into a unique partnership with the bean industry to promote public health around the world. Through a USAID grant, the Beans for Health Alliance mission is to sponsor research and promote the health benefits of beans around the world. Our goal is to bring regular consumption of beans and other pulses to the forefront of cost-effective solutions to public health challenges in developed and developing countries. Bean growers, processors, and USAID currently form the core partnership, and interested parties are welcome to join the BHA.