June 2024 - Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Supposed downsides of millets as food
by Don Osborn 20 Jul '24

20 Jul '24

We are by now used to hearing about the advantages of the various millets as nutritious food that are easily digested, and which have added advantages for people with specialized diets (namely low GI and gluten-free). There are, however, a couple of negative issues one may come across: that millets are goitrogenic; and that they have their own forms of gluten. I'd like to air those here in the interests of wide coverage of millets' nutritional characteristics, and to elicit any relevant info from list subscribers. 1. *Goitrogenic effects?* There has been research including millets among the various foods containing compounds which interfere with iodine uptake or thyroid function. This quote from the Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition provides some context: "Goitrogens are dietary substances that interfere with thyroid metabolism and can aggravate the effect of iodine deficiency. Most goitrogens do not have a major clinical effect unless they are consumed at high levels and iodine deficiency is present." https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/g… (this page has several articles) The compounds at issue in millets (as well as in soybeans, apparently) are flavonoids, which may act to "impair thyroid peroxidase activity," ("The Latest Research and Development of Minerals in Human Nutrition") https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medi… I understand from our NAMA colleague Joni Kindwall-Moore that concerns at least one person has raised about millets in particular on this count are not widely held. 2. *Other forms of gluten?* A relative mentioned that one researcher (Peter Osborne, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnlZaMzZaSk ) proposes that all grains have some form of gluten, and that all of those may pose problems for gluten-sensitive people. For context: "Gluten is a family of storage proteins — formally known as prolamins — that are naturally found in certain grains, such as wheat, barley, and rye. "Many prolamins fall under the gluten umbrella, but they’re most commonly identified by the specific grains in which they’re found. For instance, glutenins and gliadins are the prolamins in wheat, secalins are found in rye, and hordeins are found in barley." https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-gluten Dr. Osborne notes the following "forms of gluten" (i.e., prolamins) in three millets, and states that these grains plus oats, corn, and rice are "oftentimes considered to be gluten free even though technically they are not..." (at about minute 5:25 in his video): * Millet (presumably proso, but this is not stated): panicin (40% of total protein) * Sorghum: kafirin (52% of total protein) * Teff: penniseitin (11% of total protein) (The table with forms of gluten that is used by Dr. Osborne in his video can also be viewed at http://www.allergy-details.com/gluten-allergy-c/gluten-allergy-and-types-of… ) On the other hand, a nice short item on millets and allergies notes that "Panicin is the prolamine gluten protein in [proso?] millet. Because this type of gluten does not activate celiac disease, it is considered gluten-free." https://www.allergy-details.com/gluten-free-diet/gluten-free-food-gluten-fr… I'll leave this here, with the caveat that I have no expertise in these issues, and so am not in a position to evaluate claims or research findings relating to them. I look forward to others' comments. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Two recent items on cooking with sorghum & one on a business
by Don Osborn 30 Jun '24

30 Jun '24

Two recent items on sorghum (our millet-of-the-month in June), focusing on ways one can prepare and serve it. "Chefs Explain What Sorghum Is And What You Can Do With It," by Lauren Corona, Mashed, 24 June 2024 https://www.mashed.com/1607722/what-is-sorghum/ (Begins with basic info on sorghum, and then discusses 6 ways that sorghum and sorghum products can be used,) "Sorghum Flour: Uses, Baking Tips, and Substitutes," Coconut Mama, 25 April 2024 (For a somewhat deeper dive into sorghum flour, this is a good general discussion of aspects of using it, including how to make one's own.) ...plus an article on a sorghum business and what its success may indicate: "Sorghum leading a culinary charge," by Amy Bickel, High Plains Journal, 3 May 2024 https://hpj.com/2024/05/03/sorghum-leading-a-culinary-charge/ (Focus on the success of a Kansas-based sorghum enterprise - Nu Life Market - and its founder, Earl Roemer, in producing sorghum ingredients and products made from them. Wider context and trends also mentioned.) DO, EL, MI, US NAMA

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"Sorghum month" & lessons for publicity?
by Don Osborn 29 Jun '24

29 Jun '24

When we set up the "millet of the month" calendar before 2023, one of our friends at Whole Grains Council (sorry, but I forget now if it was Caroline or Kelly) asked us to be sure sorghum was in June, to harmonize with their own grain of the month calendar. That made absolute sense, so June it has been. I should note that the WGC grain of the month concept was an inspiration for our millet of the month - a way to spotlight specific millets that often are obscured in the crowd (unlike sorghum, which is pretty major in more than one category). It turns out that the grain of the month calendar goes back at least to 2010. "Sorghum month" This year, I did a little more digging on sorghum and the month of June, and found that over the last few years, several organizations have on and off been making their own references to sorghum in this month - often as "sorghum month" or "National Sorghum Month." These include: * United Sorghum Checkoff https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/blog/americans-are-rediscovering-sorghum/ * National Sorghum Producers https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/blog/americans-are-rediscovering-sorghum/ (p. 23) * U.S. Grains Council https://grains.org/photo-of-the-week-sorghum-month/ * Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom https://www.facebook.com/ksagclassroom/ (10 June 2024) * AmericanFarmer.us https://americanfarmer.us/american-farmer-news/22-june-is-sorghum-month.html (includes a video on cooking sorghum) * and others To be honest, I'd never heard of sorghum month outside of the WGC calendar, and was unaware of others' use of it.. Could there be a more organized approach to using it for publicity, and might that be more effective? Such as, at least a press release from major stakeholders? Or perhaps a common logo for the diverse organizations to use (in addition to whatever they each may have, or in lieu of creating their own theme)? Lessons? What lessons might all this have for a broader 12 month calendar? WGC has had its own logos for each of the 12 grains of the month, but it may be the only example. For NAMA and the millets of the month, it would be fairly simple to incorporate the graphic representations of various millets from the International Year of Millets (with appropriate permissions). And this is what I'll propose doing for 2025. The advantage that sorghum month (June) has across whatever calendars is that it is already known to various entities that work with sorghum and/or are located in the region of the US where it is grown. The challenge for it is to find a new angle each year, especially for people who already know the basics about it. The challenge for months devoted to millets that are less well-known or next-to-unknown is more daunting. The object is to create more awareness and interest in these diverse grains. While iteration is needed to make an impact (this is a long term project), there is no simple template to apply to each month. Each millet (or pairing) has a different story. So, maybe a cross-cutting theme or visual element could be used each year? (The current millet-of-the-month calendar is appended below the sig.) Anyway, those are some thoughts as we come to the end of June and the midpoint in 2024. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance * Millet-of-the-Month * Jan. proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) Feb. little millet (Panicum sumatrense) & Sonoran millet (P. hirticaule) Mar. foxtail millet (Setaria italica) Apr. pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) May finger millet (Eleusine coracana) Jun. sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Jul. barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.) Aug. fonio & raishan (Digitaria spp.) Sep. browntop & Guinea (Brachiaria spp.) Oct. kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) Nov. teff (Eragrostis tef) Dec. adlay/Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)

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Keeping up with events relevant to millets
by Don Osborn 24 Jun '24

24 Jun '24

There are two events ongoing today (6/24) that may or may not include mention or discussion of millets: * KPM's Baker & Miller Educational Webinar Series, 24-28 June 2024 (online) https://www.kpmanalytics.com/plp/baker-miller-educational-webinar-series * Specialty Food Association's 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show, 23-25 June 2024 (New York, NY) https://www.specialtyfood.com/fancy-food-shows/summer/register/ I personally don't see such events reliably to report, but if anyone else does - especially if they know millets might be covered somehow - please let us know. In th meantime, there is an excellent calendar of upcoming Cereal & Grain Sciences Events maintained by Dr. H. Hikmet Boyacioglu of KPM Analytics (and an adjunct prof. at Kansas State Univ.). It is updated regularly and the current one has some events as far out as 2030. To download the latest calendar as PDF, see https://www.kpmanalytics.com/plp/cereal-grain-sciences-events-calendar Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Pearl millet for pollinators
by Don Osborn 23 Jun '24

23 Jun '24

Another role filled by pearl millet turns out to be as a food source for bees and other pollinators. This according to recent research in Georgia that is summarized in this piece: "Pearl millet wins approval from honey bees and other pollinators," Morning Ag Clips, 20 June 2024 https://www.morningagclips.com/pearl-millet-wins-approval-from-honey-bees-a… The research picks up on work on pearl millet and pollinators last done 6 decades ago, and fits into a larger line of thinking about the sometimes dismissed value of grasses for pollinators. This project was undertaken by researchers from USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. "[T]he research team focused on bees and other pollinators of grasses, especially centipede grass and sorghum. The researchers took an interest in pearl millet because of its ability to thrive in areas characterized by drought, low soil fertility and high temperatures. These traits make pearl millet, which is grown primarily in the Southeastern U.S., a low-input crop with great benefits for pollinators and farmers looking for a good field border plant." I've previously noted the use of pearl millet in crop rotation to combat nematodes, and experiments with it in a swath grazing system - both also in North America. Pearl millet is already established as a forage crop in the US. It will be good to see more work with it as a food crop. The original research article referenced by the Morning Ag Clips feature linked above is:: Karen R. Harris-Shultz, Jonathan S. O’Hearn, Joseph Knoll, C. Scott Clem. "Insects Foraging on Pearl Millet, *Cenchrus americanus*, Pollen." *Journal of Entomological Science* 2024; doi: https://doi.org/10.18474/JES23-91 For general information on pearl millet, see the USDA Plant Guide publication on it at https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_pegl2.pdf Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 29, Issue 18
by Gary Wietgrefe 22 Jun '24

22 Jun '24

Here are more links to document early use of sorghum by American founders....Gary Wietgrefe --Ben Franklin From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Ward, 24 March 1757 (archives.gov) <https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-07-02-0058> --Thomas Jefferson (note also comments on hemp seed and eating broom corn) Thomas Appleton to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1820 (archives.gov) <https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0297> and a short broom corn reference To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Mann Randolph, 14 June 1805 (archives.gov) <https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-1898> --James Madison To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 1 July 1791 (archives.gov) <https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-20-02-0239> On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 6:02 AM <collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space> wrote: > Send Collab mailing list submissions to > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.millets2023.space/mailman/listinfo/collab > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space > > You can reach the person managing the list at > collab-owner(a)lists.millets2023.space > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Collab digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. History of sorghum in North America? (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:46:32 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] History of sorghum in North America? > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibXN1idZnjASc12HgL63PvG4+uSVmM2fv8d9_NYuQPQABQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > What is the history of sorghum in North America? > > For some perspectives we turn first to a quite good piece on the True > Treats Historic Candy LLC website that offers a broad US historical context > while focusing on sorghum syrup or molasses: "The Triumph, Defeats, and > Ultimate Victory of the Sorghum Syrup" > > > https://truetreatscandy.com/the-triumph-defeats-and-ultimate-victory-og-the… > > The National Sorghum Producers quarterly magazine, Sorghum Grower, has an > article taking the focus more to the central plains "sorghum belt" entitled > "Milo or Sorghum What Say You?" > > https://sorghumgrowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021_SorghumGrower_Fa… > (scroll down to p. 6) > > What of the supposed role of Benjamin Franklin in the introduction of > "broomcorn" US (another name for sorghum) to the US. It turns out that > sources are not clear, even if he had a role in promoting it: > > https://bacacountyhistory.com/2016/12/09/did-ben-franklin-really-have-an-ke… > > It bears noting, in any case, that the first seeds of sorghum in America > likely came with enslaved Africans (like seeds of pearl millet & African > rice, to speak only of grains). Amont the sources discussing this: > https://www.pullupyourplants.com/archive/sorghum/benfranklin > > Sorghum came as a crop to Canada only about 3 decades ago: > https://www.topcropmanager.com/sorghum-in-canada-20528/ > > Altho sorghum may have come to Mexico much earlier, the first publication > about it there was in 1882, and its cultivation as a crop was boosted > beginning in the 1950s by availability of hybrid varieties from Texas (per > a 2002 paper by Hector Williams-Alan?s, "Sorghum and Millet in Mexico"): > https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470384923.ch75 (I shared this link previously > on Collab). > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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History of sorghum in North America?
by Don Osborn 20 Jun '24

20 Jun '24

What is the history of sorghum in North America? For some perspectives we turn first to a quite good piece on the True Treats Historic Candy LLC website that offers a broad US historical context while focusing on sorghum syrup or molasses: "The Triumph, Defeats, and Ultimate Victory of the Sorghum Syrup" https://truetreatscandy.com/the-triumph-defeats-and-ultimate-victory-og-the… The National Sorghum Producers quarterly magazine, Sorghum Grower, has an article taking the focus more to the central plains "sorghum belt" entitled "Milo or Sorghum What Say You?" https://sorghumgrowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021_SorghumGrower_Fa… (scroll down to p. 6) What of the supposed role of Benjamin Franklin in the introduction of "broomcorn" US (another name for sorghum) to the US. It turns out that sources are not clear, even if he had a role in promoting it: https://bacacountyhistory.com/2016/12/09/did-ben-franklin-really-have-an-ke… It bears noting, in any case, that the first seeds of sorghum in America likely came with enslaved Africans (like seeds of pearl millet & African rice, to speak only of grains). Amont the sources discussing this: https://www.pullupyourplants.com/archive/sorghum/benfranklin Sorghum came as a crop to Canada only about 3 decades ago: https://www.topcropmanager.com/sorghum-in-canada-20528/ Altho sorghum may have come to Mexico much earlier, the first publication about it there was in 1882, and its cultivation as a crop was boosted beginning in the 1950s by availability of hybrid varieties from Texas (per a 2002 paper by Hector Williams-Alanís, "Sorghum and Millet in Mexico"): https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470384923.ch75 (I shared this link previously on Collab). Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Bill Gates on fonio (& finger millet & teff)
by Don Osborn 17 Jun '24

17 Jun '24

In his blog, "GatesNotes," Bill Gates recently expressed fascination with millets, and spotlighted fonio, along with mentions of finger millet and teff. This attention to millets as a group (which he associates with the word "magic," twice), and the specificity within it, are appreciated. "Could a grain older than the wheel be the future of food?: Lost crops like fonio could help us fight climate change and malnutrition." by Bill Gates, Gates Notes: The Blog of Bill Gates, 16 April 2024 https://www.gatesnotes.com/Fonio Mr. Gates approaches the subject with a particular interest in smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia, reflecting the Gates Foundation's agricultural development focus./1 In much of this piece, Mr. Gates focuses on fonio, including the key problem of dehulling, and how Terra Ingredients (US)/2 partnered with CAA (Senegal) to develop a solution. Bill Gates is an important, if sometimes controversial, figure in agriculture and food, but it does help for millets to have such high profile attention as we seek to build on the momentum of the International Year. Regarding the "ancient" (or "older than the wheel") aspect he mentioned, I thought it would be of interest to note that aside from millets being among our first crops, some of them were among the first globalized crops. One can imagine a vast counterclockwise prehistoric spread of pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet from Africa east to India and beyond, and of foxtail millet and proso millet from China west across Eurasia. Other millets, such as fonio, teff and several in Asia, remained more regional or local over the ages. From that perspective, one could argue that we're entering into a second great globalization of millets, involving new or expanded trade of some, and spread of cultivation of others. Millets have a legacy of being deeply rooted historically and often culturally, even while they are also readily shared. So as we explore new opportunities with these diverse crops, it is important to respect those roots, as well as their genetic heritage. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Notes: 0. Subject article is cited & linked at the beginning of the text, above. 1. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-growth-and-opportu… 2. https://www.terraingredients.com/news/bill-gates-takes-note-of-fonio/

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4 podcasts (& 3 series) about sorghum
by Don Osborn 16 Jun '24

16 Jun '24

Sorghum is our millet of the month in June. Here are 4 podcasts I came across that have some good information about sorghum that you may want to check out. Also, three series of podcasts that offer more information for growers and businesses. (Numbering has no significance other than for reference.) 1. "The Health Benefits of Sorghum," Nutrition Facts Podcast with Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM, 3 June 2021 (~12 min.) https://nutritionfacts.org/audio/the-health-benefits-of-sorghum/ (Dr. Greger offers an interesting short overview. His delivery is anything but monotonic.) 2. "Sorghum," Steel Magnolias Podcast, 5 October 2021 (~26 min.) https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/episode/sorghum (Hosts Laura Beth Peters and Lainie Stubblefield focus on a location in Tennessee where sorghum syrup is produced, and along the way discuss various uses of the crop.) 3. "Sorghum: Planting Possibilities," Gravy; Stories of the changing American South, 5 March 2020 (00:23:31) https://sfagravy.libsyn.com/sorghum-planting-possibilities (Hosts Melissa Hall and John T. Edge of the Southern Food Alliance, and reporter Wilson Sayre also begin with sorghum syrup, but pivot to discussion of its history and exploration of other food uses. Includes conversation with Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills, which (at least until recently) was producing sorghum with the thought of reviving its use in Southern food culture.) 4. "Making The Case For Grain Sorghum With Nate Blum," The Commstock Report (podcast/ YouTube channel), 6 June 2024 (~23 min.) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-the-case-for-grain-sorghum/id1… or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24RHtY8-tUM (Host Martin Bohling interviewed Sorghum United CEO Nate Blum, who gives a background on Sorghum United and its focus on food security. Nate discusses sorghum value addition, expors, and the state of sorghum cultivation in Nebraska, where he previously worked for the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board, and the Plains.) The Plains states in the US have a high sorghum production. Here are three podcast series with information primarily for producers and processors: 5. Sorghum State Podcast, a production of Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers, since 2022 ("The Sorghum State Podcast brings leaders in industry, government, and academia together for insights and color pertaining to grain sorghum in Kansas. ") * https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sorghum-state-podcast--2980411 * https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sorghum-state-podcast/id1531899620 * https://ksgrainsorghum.org/kansas-grain-sorghum-producers-launches-sorghum-… (announcement of the podcast on the KGSP website, dated Nov. 2018?) * Kansas is the state with the highest sorghum production 6. Sorghum Smart Talk Podcast: Policy Edition, National Sorghum Producers, 19 episodes from 2021-2023 ("The Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition features the latest information on legislative and regulatory matters impacting sorghum producers and the agriculture industry.") * https://sorghumgrowers.com/podcast/ * https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sorghum-smart-talk-policy-edition/id1… 7. Sorghum Smart Talk Poscast, United Sorghum Checkoff Program, 131 episodes from 2019-2023 ("Sorghum Smart Talk exists to feature useful information and provide credible resources relating to the sorghum industry in order to benefit sorghum growers and industry stakeholders.") * https://www.sorghumcheckoff.com/resources/smart-talk-podcast/ * https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sorghum-smart-talk/id1437839733 That's all I have for now. If you know of any other podcast productions on sorghum, please let us know. (A decent accounting of video productions would be another matter, but info on same is definitely also welcome.) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Sorghum United on the BBC
by Sorghum United 16 Jun '24

16 Jun '24

Greetings, fello millets advocates. I thought you may be interested to see the conversation that Sorghum United had on the BBC World News this past Monday. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/ebQN3rNQlxU nate-blum-bbcw-10-jun-24-0734-6OL.mp4 <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fPJaF_YScvm6yC_A4RphNYklNjOtslnd/view?usp=…> -- *Nate Blum* Chief Executive Officer Sorghum United +1 402 802 1850 sorghumunited(a)gmail.com

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