The sustainably-grown, gluten-free, and nutritionally dense millet grains are having a moment in the spotlight. These cereal grains have been widely produced and consumed for over 7,000 years in regions ranging from sub-Saharan Africa to Asia, and today are found in countries around the globe, growing in arid and semiarid climates where other grains may not thrive in the absence of scarce irrigation water. 

Even with its ancient origins, these grains are still fairly unknown in comparison to other highly consumed North American grains such as corn, or other common cereal grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. Production of the millets has also not experienced the same growth trajectory or acknowledgement as these other grains. 

However, the year 2023 is about to change that.

Year of the Millets Declared

The United Nations’ and Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) declaration of 2023 as the International Year of the Millets came with a mission. The recognition came with a strong agenda to promote the global challenges this wonder grain can solve through increased production. 

Collectively, millet cereal grains address our growing global population, climate challenges and availability of affordable, nutritious food options to meet these demands and environmental focuses. 

These wonder grains have proven the impact they can bring for thousands of years, but a conscious effort has now unlocked that impact to ripple across millions more acres of farmland. 

As indicated by the 2023 declaration, “The International Year will (i) elevate awareness of the contribution of millets for food security and nutrition (ii) inspire stakeholders on improving sustainable production and quality of millets; and (iii) draw focus for enhanced investment in research and development and extension services to achieve the other two aims.

Watch the United Nations address and declaration of the Year of the Millets.

A Realized Potential

As stated by the United Nations and FAO, the cultivation of millets is declining in many countries, and, “their potential to address climate change and food security is not being realized in full. This is despite the fact that millets can grow on relatively poor soils and under adverse and arid conditions, with comparatively fewer inputs than other cereals.”

Focused efforts are now shifting this to a movement of grand scale.

This millet momentum comes at a time when climate conscious, nutritionally diverse food options are needed; both in the United States and across the globe. Economically, it is poised to bring vitality up and down the food value chain.

The sustainability impact that millets promote in their cultivation is worth celebrating and capitalizing. Not only do they require substantially less fertilizer and rainfall, they have the ability to thrive in climates where other cereal grains may not. 

This positions millet as a benefit to all- farmers, processors, consumers and our planet.     

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed in December 2022 to the United Nations and the (FAO) in a ceremony at the FAO headquarters, “A once-in-a-century pandemic followed by a conflict situation has shown that food security is still a concern for the planet…At such a time, a global movement related to millets is an important step, since they are easy to grow, climate resilient and drought resistant." 

He continued to express that the "need of the hour is to make millets a food choice for the future".

The Proso Millet Potential

The Year of the Millets recognizes several millet species. All bringing sustainable food and feed advantages. But one of these species stands out for its diversity of uses for humans and animals, and its fast maturing abilities on marginal soil with low moisture requirements- the powerful proso millet.    

Planted on 600,000 U.S. acres in 2021, the proso millet potential due to drought, cover/double cropping desires, gluten-free grain options, and recent genetic research to improve production capabilities is opening wide.

Where is proso millet being grown in the U.S. and where it its future impact?

What does this mean for the future of proso millet?

There is an undeniable millet movement taking shape across the planet. 

We can thank many organizations, the Government of India, United Nations, and FAO for bringing millets to the international stage spotlight, but it’s courageous and innovative companies like Dryland Genetics who are fast-tracking the research and production abilities for greener grain proso millet varieties to be planted with consistent results. 

This, in turn, allows the farmer through the food supply chain to gain production stability and market development. 

Dryland Genetics modern breeding of proso millet commercial seed varieties DLG240 and DLG40  are essential to meeting the demand and scale of acres available for proso millet worldwide. With these sustainably-grown varieties from Dryland Genetics, 2023 and beyond will not only be a time to bring light to this ancient grain, but it will realize acres of the world’s most sustainable wonder grain.

Discover where and how proso millet is used and consumed.