Supporting growers and rural communities: resilience through protein diversification

Event description

This fall, GFI and Pulse Canada are partnering to launch The Pulse Chain: From Growers to Global Protein Markets, an interactive webinar series that brings growers and food innovators together to explore how pulses connect farms to the future of protein.

Over three live sessions, pulse farmers and experts will share their perspectives on farming realities, crop rotations, sustainability practices, and how diversification strengthens both rural communities and global supply chains. This series creates space for dialogue between the growers who produce these critical crops and the alternative protein sector that depends on them.

Webinar schedule

• October 20 – The state of Canadian and U.S. pulse farming in 2025
  Explore on-farm economics, decision-making strategies, and how farmers view opportunities for crop diversification and alternative protein markets.
• October 29 – Sustainability from farm to fork: pulse grower practices
  Learn how growers are managing soil health, diversifying operations, and integrating climate-smart practices that benefit farms, food companies, and ecosystems alike.
• November 10 – Supporting growers and rural communities: resilience through protein diversification
  Discover how diversifying protein production strengthens rural economies and food systems, and what conditions could expand opportunities for North American farmers in emerging protein markets.

Why it matters

This series is more than conversation—it’s collaboration. By connecting farmers with food innovators, we’re building bridges across the supply chain to support sustainable agriculture, unlock new market opportunities, and cultivate resilience in farming communities.

Meet the speakers

Paul Kanning

Paul Kanning is chairman of USA Pulses, representing the growers, processors, food manufacturers, and exporters of dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and dry beans. He operates a family farm in Montana where he grows pulses, cereal grain, and oilseed crops.

Denis Trémorin, PAg., MSc

Denis Trémorin is Director of Sustainability at Pulse Canada and a Professional Agrologist with 14 years of experience. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Agroecology and Soil Science from the University of Manitoba. At Pulse Canada, he develops and implements the Canadian pulse industry’s sustainability strategy. He also serves as Chair of Field to Market Canada, which focuses on developing environmental performance metrics and tools for Canadian crops.

Justin Miller

Justin Miller is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher from Gildford, Montana, where his great-great-grandparents first homesteaded in 1911. He co-owns and operates Deep Roots Partnership with his brother, Jared. Their farm produces high-quality small grains and pulse crops and maintains a herd of registered Simmental cattle. Justin is president of the Hill, Liberty, and Blaine County Farm Bureau, a trustee of the Gildford Community Church, serves on the local Water and Sewer Board, volunteers with the Fire Department, and previously served 19 years as an emergency medical technician. He is also on the REAL Montana advisory board. Justin and his wife, Becki, have two children and enjoy traveling, fishing, flying, and skiing.

Tim McGreevy

Tim McGreevy is the CEO of USA Pulses and the USA Pulses Trade Association, Pulse Foundation, Idaho Pea and Lentil Commission, Washington Pulse Crops Commission, and the Western Pulse Growers Association. These organizations work to increase awareness, research, and consumption of U.S. pulse crops. In this role, Tim leads international and domestic market development, research, policy, and coalition building. He also serves on the Finance Committee of the Global Pulse Confederation.

Shaun Dyrland

Shaun Dyrland farms in Kyle, Saskatchewan, with his wife and two children. He is a fourth-generation farmer with 27 years of experience and grows large green lentils, red lentils, kabuli chickpeas, durum wheat, canola, and occasionally dry edible beans on dryland and irrigated fields. Shaun serves as a director on Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Pulse Canada. He is passionate about improving the pulse industry, which plays a vital role in his farm and community.

Shane Strydhorst

Shane Strydhorst is a third-generation farmer from Neerlandia, Alberta. He operates a 1,300-acre grain farm with his wife, Sheri, and their daughter, Sarina. He grows barley, canola, spring wheat, and faba beans, and mentors young grain farmers in the community. Shane is chair of Alberta Pulse Growers and vice-chair of Pulse Canada. He advocates for the environmental and health benefits of pulses and works to build positive relationships between consumers and Canadian farmers.

Kevin Auch

Kevin Auch operates a dryland and irrigated farm near Carmangay, Alberta, with his wife Laurel and two employees. A 1985 graduate of the University of Alberta’s agriculture program, he has long focused on conservation farming. Kevin grows a variety of crops and uses a five-year crop rotation, continually seeking sustainable and profitable ways to diversify. He has served on numerous agricultural boards and currently serves with Alberta Pulse Growers and Pulse Canada.

John Manuel

John Manuel is Vice President of Commercial Operations and Merchandising at Puris, a leading pea protein isolate and ingredient manufacturer. With over 20 years of experience in agriculture and ingredient manufacturing, he oversees the full pea business supply chain—from selling seed to growers to ensuring timely delivery of ingredients to customers. His work spans procurement, risk management, supply chain, marketing, sales, and corporate strategy. John brings a pragmatic, experience-driven perspective to building resilient plant-based ingredient businesses.

Chelsea Didinger, PhD

Chelsea Didinger holds a PhD in Nutrition from Colorado State University, where her research focused on pulses. Her translational work examined how citizen science and an Extension toolkit can influence pulse consumption by addressing motivators and barriers. She is the founder of A Legume a Day, a pulse education platform aimed at inspiring greater consumption for public and environmental benefit. Chelsea collaborates with several pulse organizations, including grower groups, to engage stakeholders and monitor market trends.

Cordell Huebsch

Cordell Huebsch is a fourth-generation crop farmer from Central Minnesota. His family grows corn, dark red kidney beans, and soybeans, and runs a U-Pick Berry Farm that welcomes over 10,000 visitors annually during its fall corn maze and pumpkin patch. His father began growing dark red kidney beans in 1979, which have since been a consistent profit center for their operation. Farming sandy, flat ground, the farm relies entirely on center pivot irrigation.