By Terran Fielder, EARTHDAY.ORG
Be they pinto, navy, black, dark red kidney, light red kidney, white kidney, Great Northern, pink, small red or cranberry beans — legumes are one of our oldest cultivated crops and have been grown for food for over 9,000 years.
Beans play an essential role in sustainable agriculture and are an important, if not vital, farming staple, contributing to economic growth globally while also being easy on the ol’ pocketbook. The humble bean is full of good-for-you nutrients and brings a whole host of health benefits to the table.
Beans As Superfoods
Rich in fiber, antioxidants, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and copper, beans contribute to heart health, help regulate blood pressure, improve eye health, alleviate PMS symptoms and can even help with depression. Beans’ dense nutritional profile makes them an ideal food choice for inclusion in anyone’s diet.
But as a rich source of protein, beans can be especially beneficial for vegetarians and vegans, whose diets already have a smaller environmental impact than meat eaters. With beans, those living on meat free diets can still meet their nutritional needs and reduce their “food-print” even further.
The Sustainability Superpower of Beans
Beyond their health benefits, beans are a sustainable crop. As “nitrogen fixers,” they have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in the soil that can convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form plants can use.
This natural process improves soil health, making beans an essential part of crop rotation as they restore the nutrients that other plants deplete without the need for synthetic chemical fertilizers.
This, in turn, minimizes the environmental harm caused by chemicals in these fertilizers, which can contaminate water sources when they run off into rivers, lakes and streams. Furthermore, beans require less water than many other crops, conserving this finite resource and making them adaptable to a variety of climates, including arid regions like deserts — one reason why they are a globally popular crop.
Beans: A Growing Trend
The bean industry is expanding rapidly. By 2026, global bean consumption is expected to reach nearly 20 million metric tons, which is a 5% growth from 2021. The market, valued at over $7 billion in 2024, is projected to exceed $10 billion by 2033 — nearly six times the size of the global esports industry!
Additionally, beans are affordable. While prices may vary by location and variety, beans are generally a cost-effective source of nutrients. So, the next time you are getting groceries, throw some beans in your cart.
Learn More, Make a Difference
This Earth Day, a new documentary will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime, starting April 22. Common Ground, directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, which explores the broken food system and showcases solutions like regenerative agriculture to restore the planet. In the film we see farmer Rick Clark unpack how he uses beans to regenerate the soil on his 7000-acre farm by growing beans in planned crop rotations. Make it part of your Earth Day activities to tune in and learn more about regenerative agriculture.
For those eager to dive deeper into regenerative agriculture, EARTHDAY.ORG offers valuable resources like videos, quizzes and detailed farming guides. These tools empower us to make informed, environmentally friendly choices.