We are very excited to announce that Yumbini has joined the Beans is How, “Bean Coaltion“! “The WHAT?”, you may say. Beans is How is a bold initiative to double the consumption of beans worldwide by 2028. It is part of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub focused on United Nations Sustainability Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger by 2030.

Okay, okay. Let’s back up a bit. In 2015, all of the United Nations member states (Including the United States) agreed to pursue 17 “Sustainable Development Goals” (or SDGs) to improve the wellbeing of our planet and its inhabitants by 2030. The 17 goals are as follows:

1. No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Good Health and Well-Being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Endure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
10. Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Life Below the Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, promote access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Partnerships for the Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Most people will agree, that is an inspiring but daunting set of goals. And what seemed possible back in 2015 when they were adopted, has changed a lot with the outbreak of Covid and armed conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East. The 2024 UN Annual Report is grim. It notes “this year’s report reveals that only seventeen percent of SDGs are on track to be achieved, nearly half are showing minimal or moderate progress, and progress on over a third has stalled or even regressed.”

But that is no reason to give up! Indeed, the report confirms “governments remain united behind the 2030 Agenda”. ( This is impressive in its own right since the UN includes 193 member states around the world!). They stress “we must double down on those areas that can unlock transformative progress across the goals”. This is where Beans is How comes in.

In “The Brilliance of Beans” document, Beans is How outlines how humble beans can improve prosperity, the health of people, and the planet. Hopefully you know beans are a great source of healthy plant protein and fiber. But did you know they also have a low glycemic index? Whats more, beans are associated with maintaining a healthy weight, gut health, and reduced risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. And that is only the part where Beans is How we are going to improve the health of people! (Learn more about the miracle of beans here.)

Also, Beans is How we can help our planet. Beans benefit soil health, improve biodiversity, use less water and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than other sources of protein. And they have a long shelf life which can reduce food waste. Besides that, Beans is How we can improve nutritional security and create greater prosperity. Beans are inexpensive, grown all over the world by small-scale farmers, and come in many different forms for many different culturally relevant foods. In fact, this document shows how beans can influence all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals!

The Beans is How Bean Coalition, of which Yumbini is now a member, collaborates to spread awareness about the virtues of beans and work toward the goal of doubling bean consumption by 2028. Beans is How is working to create long term behavior change to make beans visible, desireable and available. They encourage the inclusion of beans in dietary guidelines, restaurants, hospitals, school lunches, and other healthful products.

Beans is How publishes a monthly newsletter called “Spill the Beans (Newsletter Sign-up). It is active on Instagram and X at @beansishow, often using hashtag #BeansOnTheMenu.

Yumbini is still the Beans is How “new kid on the block”. But we are excited and anxious to collaborate with other “bean serious” companies large and small, including Bush’s, Unilever, Kraft Heinz, Barilla, Goya, and the World Wildlife Foundation. Stay tuned for more news!