Short answers, pulled from the story.
The scientific name for the lentil plant is Vicia lens or Lens culinaris. Modern taxonomy classifies cultivated varieties under Vicia lens subsp. culinaris and wild relatives under Vicia lens subsp. orientalis.
Carbonized lentil remains found inside Greece's Franchthi Cave date back to 11,000 BC. This site provides the oldest known evidence of human cultivation for this specific legume.
Australia, Canada, and India collectively accounted for 72 percent of global dry lentil production in 2023. Australia currently leads global red lentil production while Canada dominates green lentil markets.
Boiled lentils contain approximately 65 percent resistant starch classified as RS1 type. At least 10 percent of this starch escapes digestion within the small intestine offering potential benefits for diabetics.
The International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas launched its breeding program in 1977. This initiative supplies landraces and breeding lines to countries worldwide alongside other developing programs.