Beans are one of the most important legume crops in the world, with global production exceeding 4 million tons, although production in developing countries is still insufficient for human consumption.

Forage beans are now widely grown in Europe, in parts of southeastern Australia, in the Middle East (including Egypt) and in small quantities in Canada. Very large areas are available in China, mostly for domestic use. It is considered a temperate crop, not adapted to the tropics except at high altitudes: it was introduced by the Spanish into the Andes.