Pulse Industry Leaders Highlight Export Demand and Growth Opportunities at Pulses 26
May 13, 2026
Global pulse industry leaders gathered this week in Orlando, Florida for Pulses 26, an international event hosted by the Global Pulses Confederation that brings together growers, exporters, processors, logistics companies, and buyers from around the world.
Montana farmer and Montana Pulse Crop Committee member Brian Akelstad says the conference provides a critical opportunity for U.S. growers to strengthen relationships with international customers and expand export demand.
“I think the beautiful part about this conference and having the world come to Orlando this week is we are so dependent upon the exports,” Akelstad said. “The Montana farmer, the U.S. farmer relies upon exports.”
Akelstad says events like Pulses 26 allow global buyers to connect directly with growers and better understand the quality behind U.S.-grown pulse crops.
“Now we have the world here this week to see our product, to visit with us and to make those connections so that we can increase our exports,” he said.
He says American pulse growers continue earning a strong international reputation because of their commitment to quality and consistency.
“The Montana farmer, the U.S. farmer is known for their quality,” Akelstad explained. “That is what separates our product from some of the other products available in the world.”
Akelstad says buyers routinely ask detailed questions about production practices and quality standards.
“Several of the buyers will come up and ask you specific questions about your quality and what it is you do to assure them that quality they’re looking for,” he said.
Relationships throughout the pulse supply chain were another major focus during the conference, including partnerships with exporters like Columbia Grain International.
Columbia Grain President and CEO Kurt Haarmann says sponsoring the event was a natural fit for the company.
“The GPC sponsorship this year really made sense for us,” Haarmann said. “It’s the first year that the GPC has been held in the U.S. in 11 years.”
Haarmann says Columbia Grain has evolved significantly over the years, growing from a small grain export company into a major player in specialty crops and pulse processing.
“Our mission is to feed the world,” Haarmann said. “We want to handle every crop in a farmer’s rotation, and I think pulses are really emblematic of the growth that we’ve had.”
Despite ongoing market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, Akelstad remains optimistic about the future of pulse crops in American agriculture.
“I think there’s the agronomy benefits that more and more guys are starting to see,” he said. “They put the nitrogen back in the ground, and with the high price of fertilizer today, that is very much an added benefit.”
Industry leaders attending Pulses 26 say those long-term relationships and growing global demand continue creating new opportunities for U.S. pulse growers.
Source: Western Ag Network
