World Pulses Day, IPB University Expert Highlights the Role of Green Beans in Preventing Stunting

The commemoration of World Pulses Day on February 10th 2026, provides momentum to highlight the potential of green beans as a nutritious local food in efforts to prevent stunting in children. 

The use of green beans is considered relevant because they are easily available, affordable, and have a high nutritional content.

IPB University nutrition expert Prof Ali Khomsan said that green beans are an important source of plant based protein. Their relatively high protein content can support nutritional needs, especially in children and pregnant women. 

“When we talk about green beans as legumes, they are plants that are rich in protein. Their protein content can range from 20 to 35 percent, which is relatively high,” said Prof Ali Khomsan, a lecturer at the Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, IPB University.

Additionally, he noted that green beans are also relatively inexpensive, making them affordable for families in Indonesia.

According to him, utilizing green beans as a supplementary food at health posts can contribute to increasing children’s protein intake, especially for those experiencing stunting, malnutrition, or severe malnutrition. However, he emphasized that supplementary feeding cannot be done sporadically.

“If at health posts it is only given once a month, that is definitely not enough. Children who are stunted or have nutritional problems must be prioritized in terms of food, given food every day, some for three months, some for up to six months,” he explained.

Prof Ali Khomsan assessed that processed green beans in the form of porridge, snacks, or other food products are relatively easy for children to accept. This makes mung beans a potential reliable local food source in efforts to improve the nutrition of Indonesian children.

However, he was reminded that plant-based protein has lower digestibility and absorption compared to animal protein. Therefore, mung beans cannot stand alone as a single solution to stunting.

“Plant based protein is not as digestible as animal-based food, so it must be combined with animal-based food such as milk, eggs, or other animal sources. However, the local food source of green beans still needs to be optimized,” he said.

He recommended that the use of green beans be integrated sustainably into supplementary feeding programs at health posts and community nutrition education. 

According to him, these programs must be carried out regularly and over a sufficiently long period of time to have a real impact on improving nutritional status and preventing stunting in children. (Fj) (IAAS/SSR)