Could the Poor Man’s Meal Reboot American Agriculture?

Beans Make Economic Sense Once Again

Should the U.S. grow more legumes? 

Everything we know about legumes suggests they deserve a prominent place in our food systems. Yet, global bean consumption trends differ wildly by geographical region. The average individual in Africa consumes some 100-120 pounds of beans per year. From India to South America, beans are a cultural staple and crucial to food security. By comparison, average per person consumption in North America hovers around 7.5 pounds per year, hinting that beans have fallen out of favor in the Western Hemisphere. 

What could put them back on American grocery lists? A short supply of affordable meat options.

Which is just where American consumers find themselves as meat prices continue to climb. Long considered the poor man’s meal, beans might just be back on the menu. And they stand to offer more than a good dose of protein and vitamins. They could also play a crucial role in revitalizing agricultural health and food sovereignty in the United States.

Making A Case for Growing More Beans in the U.S.

Several factors suggest that beans could be poised for a revival in America. Changing nutritional guidance in the United States has moved beans to the protein section of the food pyramid. New imagining could change consumer value perception and influence grocery shopping trends. If shoppers see a can of black beans or chickpeas as nutritionally comparable to a package of ground beef, more legumes might end up in carts.

Price could certainly play a role in the future popularity of beans. A single 15oz can of legumes can cost between $1.00 and $2.00 while one pound of ground beef averages $7.00. Even swapping out animal protein for beans a few meals a week could amount to big savings at the supermarket. Americans tapping into disposable income to pay for groceries might soon welcome opportunities to make a dollar stretch further.

According to Make America Healthy Again ideals, national security is directly tied to our ability to produce more of the food we consume. It's a feat that can’t be achieved unless we reconsider how and what we farm. Mexico has similar food sovereignty goals and is taking steps to return to the Three Sisters model which will put beans back at the center of culture and cuisine. Though acreage devoted to legume production is down domestically, the U.S. meat industry, particularly the beef sector, is under strain. Ensuring protein availability and affordability might soon force American agriculture to expand the production of legumes and return to some type of Three Sisters model.

This type of agricultural design would also support regenerative and sustainable initiatives. Legumes have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria capable of trapping and converting nitrogen into ammonia. By planting beans, farmers naturally build back soil health and could decrease input expenses. Trapped nitrogen benefits all crop types making beans an increasingly welcome addition to farming operations. 

Obstacles for Bean Production in the U.S.

Regaining popularity will not come without challenges. American agricultural infrastructure and policy has long favored grains. Crops like legumes can’t compete on equal footing. Until domestic demand for beans increases, planting beans will be a risky endeavor for American farmers even with the benefits of increased soil health and farm sustainability.

Commercial meat production has made animal protein available and affordable for a long time. Despite the fact that beef prices have risen and meat consumers a larger percentage of grocery budgets, animal proteins still dominate dinner plates. Expensive or not, American palates prefer meat over beans. And, while beans are a protein option, most varieties are not the complete protein found in animal meat.

Just as American consumers have become reliant on animal protein, farmers have become dependent on synthetic fertilizers to grow crops. They don’t necessarily need crop diversity to ensure productivity year after year. Even though legumes have historically acted as a cornerstone of robust agricultural systems across the globe, modern farming systems are less reliant on these natural systems.

Despite cultural preferences that favor animal protein and agricultural structures with deep roots in grain production, beans offer a practical solution to sifting economic and environmental dynamics. It's one that has proven beneficial for thousands of years and could propel us forward again.