Pulses in branded agri-food products: the African and global situation.

Using text mining methods, we explored the diversity of pulses used in around 350,000 agri-food products launched on the market over the last decade and referenced in the GNPD-Mintel database. The position of soya in comparison with other legumes identified as pulses and promoted by the United Nations were compared worldwide. The positioning of the different species in the list of ingredients and in the products' description have made it possible to assess their relative importance in the branded food offered to consumers. The supremacy of soya was observed worldwide. Such result is confirmed in African countries even though fewer number of products were referenced there. This original method opens up new perspectives for monitoring the use of crops in the food market and its evolution over time and space.