Kurt Long at Pulses 26/
“Pulses at scale: innovation, nutrition, and execution in a changing food system”

Kurt Long, Vice President of Emerging Nutrition at Ardent Mills, explored the major consumer and food industry trends creating opportunities for pulse-based foods, highlighting the growing importance of affordable nutrition, protein and fiber in the United States market. He pointed to changing purchasing behaviors driven by economic pressures, as well as the rise of GLP-1 medications and updated dietary guidance, all of which are increasing consumer interest in foods that deliver both nutritional value and satiety.

The keynote also examined the role of innovation in expanding pulse consumption at scale. Long emphasized the need for collaboration across the entire value chain—from seed development and production to ingredient processing and food applications—to improve consistency, functionality and accessibility. He argued that future demand growth will depend not only on the nutritional advantages of pulses, but also on the industry's ability to develop products and applications that fit seamlessly into consumers' diets and food manufacturers' operations.

View the complete keynote