Pulses and oil seeds are two groups of crops that are characterized by their high content of proteins and vegetable oils. Pulses are dried legumes, such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas and lima beans. Oil seeds are oilseeds, such as sunflower, soybeans, canola, peanuts, mustard, flax, nigella, coconut and safflower.

Pulses are used as human and animal food, as green fertilizer and as a source of biofuels. Oil seeds are used to extract edible and industrial oils, to make flours and protein concentrates, to make soaps, cosmetics and paints, and to generate renewable energy.