July 2024 - Collab - lists.millets2023.space

Early history of proso millet in Europe (2022 book)
by Don Osborn 20 Jul '24

20 Jul '24

Of possible interest: Wiebke Kirleis, Marta Dal Corso, and Dragana Filipović. eds. 2022. *Millet and What Else?: The Wider Context of the Adoption of Millet Cultivation in Europe*. Sidestone Press. https://www.sidestone.com/books/millet-and-what-else (open access to download or read online; for sale as paperback or hardcover) Abstract: "Broomcorn/common/proso millet (*Panicum miliaceum*) is a cereal crop that originated in East Asia and was transferred westward to Europe, where it was introduced in the mid-2nd millennium BCE, at the height of the Bronze Age. Archaeobotanists from the Collaborative Research Centre 1266, supported by many colleagues, conducted a large-scale programme of radiocarbon dating of millet grains from prehistoric Europe. They discovered that the spread of this crop on the continent happened quickly, extending far and wide. "What do we know about the (pre)history of this crop in Europe? The workshop organised by the CRC 1266 at Kiel University in 2019 encouraged the discussion on the circumstances and consequences of early broomcorn millet cultivation in Europe. This book brings together many of the workshop papers and reflects the diverse topics and research areas covered. The contributions inform us on the range of cultivated and collected plants from the time before and after the start of millet cultivation in Europe; present the cultural setting in which millet arrived; discuss possible reasons driving the acceptance of this innovation; and reconstruct possible uses of millet and the methods of its cultivation, processing and storage. Not just the plant economy, but also the animal economy is represented, since millet was and is grown for both humans and animals. Techniques used to trace millet archaeologically are continually being developed or improved, and this book describes the application of a few of them. "This broad-based compilation of papers adds another layer to the dynamic picture of the Bronze Age and the interconnected continent. It also illustrates the complexity of the research on the diffusion of agricultural innovations." DO, EL, MI, US NAMA

1 0

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

7 12

Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 30, Issue 8
by gww374＠gmail.com 19 Jul '24

19 Jul '24

I just listened to the whole episode of Joni and Craig’s podcast discussing breeding, agronomics, market development, healthiness, and regenerative future of proso millet. I wished every North American farmer and processor would take 45 minutes for this proso education. They won’t. Some will. Opportunity awaits those who do….Gary Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 17, 2024, at 10:46 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. 2 recent podcasts on millets (Don Osborn) > 2. Re: [External Email]Re: Ankee or 'anki, a Mojave barnyard > millet? (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:19:51 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] 2 recent podcasts on millets > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibWVRZSCqBYhi2DAbsn+keqe2Oq8D_xKiuROiSvSTPB=VA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Here are a couple of podcasts from this past May that focus on one or more > millets: > > 1) "Pioneering Water-Efficient Crops with Craig Anderson," Regenerative by > Design, 30 May 2024 (43:50) https://share.transistor.fm/s/5dab04bf > (Podcast host, Snacktivist founder, and NAMA co-founder Joni Kindwall-Moore > interviewed Dryland Genetics COO Craig Anderson about his organization's > research on improved varieties of proso millet as a crop. This is a very > interesting and informative conversation that also considered various uses > of proso - including, but not limited to food and feed - and what it will > take to increase interest in and opportunities with it.) > Regenerative by Design is Joni's podcast, and its homepage is at: > https://www.regenbydesign.info/ > > 2) "Modernising Millets and Embracing Traditional Foods," Future Fork, 6 > May 2024 (23:54) https://omny.fm/shows/future-fork/anahita-dhondy > (Chef's Manifesto founder and SDG2 Advocacy Hub CEO Paul Newnham > interviewed Chef Anahita Dhondy, a noted chef, author, and food advocate in > India. Chef Anahita was one of the featured chefs at the G20 meeting in New > Delhi in Sept. 2023. The podcast begins with personal background, shifts to > millets at ~4:00, and then her favorite millets to cook with - finger > millet, sorghum, and foxtail millet - at ~14:00) > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

2 1

2 recent podcasts on millets
by Don Osborn 17 Jul '24

17 Jul '24

Here are a couple of podcasts from this past May that focus on one or more millets: 1) "Pioneering Water-Efficient Crops with Craig Anderson," Regenerative by Design, 30 May 2024 (43:50) https://share.transistor.fm/s/5dab04bf (Podcast host, Snacktivist founder, and NAMA co-founder Joni Kindwall-Moore interviewed Dryland Genetics COO Craig Anderson about his organization's research on improved varieties of proso millet as a crop. This is a very interesting and informative conversation that also considered various uses of proso - including, but not limited to food and feed - and what it will take to increase interest in and opportunities with it.) Regenerative by Design is Joni's podcast, and its homepage is at: https://www.regenbydesign.info/ 2) "Modernising Millets and Embracing Traditional Foods," Future Fork, 6 May 2024 (23:54) https://omny.fm/shows/future-fork/anahita-dhondy (Chef's Manifesto founder and SDG2 Advocacy Hub CEO Paul Newnham interviewed Chef Anahita Dhondy, a noted chef, author, and food advocate in India. Chef Anahita was one of the featured chefs at the G20 meeting in New Delhi in Sept. 2023. The podcast begins with personal background, shifts to millets at ~4:00, and then her favorite millets to cook with - finger millet, sorghum, and foxtail millet - at ~14:00) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

1 0

How to tell millets apart (grains & plants)
by Don Osborn 13 Jul '24

13 Jul '24

Here are links to a few videos and a couple of blog posts on identifying millets by their grains (hulled and unhulled) and by the appearance of the plants. These vary in quality and the selection of millets shown, but can help one get an idea of how to distinguish among the various species. IDENTIFYING (DE)HULLED MILLETS "How to Differentiate Dehulled MIllets," Tapas Chandra Roy, 9 August 2020 (5:37) https://youtu.be/T-D27nfbS1o?si=jF_XJU7BnSAZrzJC (Our friend Tapas Chandra Roy shows how to identify 5 of the small millets: foxtail millet; proso millet; kodo millet; barnyard millet; and little millet. These are somewhat similar, but there are differences in color, size, and to a degree shape and other characteristics.) "How to Identify each of the Small Millets/Siridhanya & understand if its Polished or not," SaveraGirs- SustainableHealthSolutions, 3 February 2021 (4:09) https://youtu.be/vfT84B5VgN0?si=dg97XUUsu2yCunDy (After a brief discussion of the importance of millets, 5 small millets are shown and compared: Foxtail millet; barnyard millet; browntop millet; kodo millet; and little millet.) IDENTIFYING UNHULLED MILLETS "Millet Grains based on Shape,Size,Colour (Browntop, Kodo, Barnyard, Little, Ragi, Foxtail, Pearl, Sorghum)," Tapas Chandra Roy, 15 June 2019 (3:57) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxa1bsZxSq4 (Tapas, in an earlier video, shows the grains of 8 millets - the 5 small or "minor" millets with their hulls, plus pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet, whose seed coatings do not have to be removed - and describes their sizes and shapes. For text, see https://tcrconnectingagriculture.com/2020/03/millets-grains-based-on-shape-… ) "9 Millet Grain Identification in a better way," The Millet Advisor, ~2020 (blog article) https://milletadvisor.com/millet-grain-identification/ "Seed identification of cereals and millets," Agristar G, 7 September 2020 (1:45) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pghHZXXkliE (A very quick tour of seeds and grain heads not limited to millets. I include it as some of the pictures are quite clear. Shown are: wheat; rice [O. sativa]; corn/maize; barley; oats; rye; triticale; sorghum; pearl millet; finger millet [ragi]; foxtail millet; kodo millet; little millet; barnyard millet [Echinochloa frumenracea]; browntop millet; quinoa; teff; and fonio, Seeds are unhulled.) IDENTIFYING MILLETS FOR NON-FOOD USES "Different millets in cover crops," OSU Plant and Soil Sciences - Extension and Teaching, 31 March 2023 (3:52) https://youtu.be/KeolAi6Wen8?si=543fwJsop0KWXTIq (Beatrix Haggard, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Oklahoma State University Plant & Soil Science discusses identifying characteristics of the stalks & heads of: sorghum, along with Sudan grass & crosses; foxtail millet; Japanese millet, and the barnyard group; and browntop millet.) "Understanding Different Millet Species | German Millet, Proso Millet, Japanese Millet," Justin Fruechte, Millborn Seeds / Renovo Seed, 12 September 2019 (4:01) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUbhcVPAjpI (Views in the field with explanations of three millets for forage. German millet of course is a variety of foxtail millet [Setaria italica] and Japanese is also known as Japanese barnyard millet [Echinochloa esculentus].) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US\) North American Millets Alliance

1 0

Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 30, Issue 4
by Gary Wietgrefe 09 Jul '24

09 Jul '24

Excellent conversation on agricultural opportunities and change which began be introducing a new crop, proso. Thanks for sharing....Gary On Tue, Jul 9, 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. Science Friday on ag, climate change & proso in Iowa (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2024 08:13:11 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Science Friday on ag, climate change & proso in Iowa > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibVaP1UmHhHpm-ysrRToGM=9= > fbTsWODY06vm5Jb9OsEGA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > The long-running radio series "Science Friday" hosted by Ira Flatow > featured a discussion entitled "How Can Iowa?s Agriculture Adapt To Climate > Threats?" (5 July 2024): > > https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/climate-resilient-agriculture-from-i… > > One of the two featured guests was Prof. Pat Schnable of Iowa State > University, who introduced the potential for proso millet in the wake of > climate change, and how his work addresses that. You'll hear him first in > the program. > > The other guest was Todd Western III, a sixth generation Iowa farmer who > happens to be one of the very few African American farmers in the state. He > spoke about some of the adaptations he has made on his farm in response to > changes. > > The episode page will feature a transcript about a week out from the > program airing date. The episode itself is just over 17 minutes. > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

1 0

Science Friday on ag, climate change & proso in Iowa
by Don Osborn 08 Jul '24

08 Jul '24

The long-running radio series "Science Friday" hosted by Ira Flatow featured a discussion entitled "How Can Iowa’s Agriculture Adapt To Climate Threats?" (5 July 2024): https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/climate-resilient-agriculture-from-i… One of the two featured guests was Prof. Pat Schnable of Iowa State University, who introduced the potential for proso millet in the wake of climate change, and how his work addresses that. You'll hear him first in the program. The other guest was Todd Western III, a sixth generation Iowa farmer who happens to be one of the very few African American farmers in the state. He spoke about some of the adaptations he has made on his farm in response to changes. The episode page will feature a transcript about a week out from the program airing date. The episode itself is just over 17 minutes. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

1 0

Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 30, Issue 2
by gww374＠gmail.com 07 Jul '24

07 Jul '24

Those videos do an excellent job explaining the health benefits of millet. Thanks for sharing!….Gary Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 6, 2024, at 6:00 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. Two videos from 2021 on millets & health (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2024 09:50:11 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Two videos from 2021 on millets & health > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibVix2jp=vppVzQeWZrw5pnz55EpPB-E+ME0MwuH=3B0qg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Here are two somewhat older videos on millets and health that are worth a > listen. > > * "What Millet Can Do For Your Body: 5 Benefits," Superfood Evolution, 14 > March 2021 (9:01) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhAflry8o0c > (This video begins with a good overview of millets, mentioning several of > them. Tagging proso millet, it goes on to discuss five benefits of > consumption of millets: 1) "nourishing digestive healer"; 2) "beneficial > for healthy bowels"; 3) "gluten-free grain option"; 4) "encourages balanced > gut microbiome"; and 5) "millet's nutritional profile." Interestingly, the > producers of the video credit Donna Gates' 1995 book, "The Body Ecology > Diet," with introducing millet to many in North America. Superfood > Evolution, according to the video description on its YouTube channel > homepage, is apparently a couple in California who produce well-researched > videos on diverse and often less-familiar foods - see > https://www.superfoodevolution.com/ ) > > * "Does Millet Help Diabetes?" The Exam Room, 27 August 2021 (19:41) > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tOCZldzgbk > (Interview of Dr. Hana Kahleova, Director of Clinical Research at the > Washington, DC-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [PCRM], > about how millets might figure in diabetes mitigation and treatment. > Informative presentation, leavened by some personal stories about use of > "millet" - likely proso millet given the context. The Exam Room is the > podcast of the PCRM, and is hosted by Chuck Carroll; it is also available > as a podcast, but this episode for some reason is not posted.) > > If you search online, you'll find a lot of videos on millets, many of them > very good. However, videos on millets produced in the US, Canada, or > Mexico, which sometimes have contextualized content and/or feature experts > in the region we should know about, not very numerous. You are welcome to > share any that you find interesting or useful. > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

1 0

Two videos from 2021 on millets & health
by Don Osborn 05 Jul '24

05 Jul '24

Here are two somewhat older videos on millets and health that are worth a listen. * "What Millet Can Do For Your Body: 5 Benefits," Superfood Evolution, 14 March 2021 (9:01) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhAflry8o0c (This video begins with a good overview of millets, mentioning several of them. Tagging proso millet, it goes on to discuss five benefits of consumption of millets: 1) "nourishing digestive healer"; 2) "beneficial for healthy bowels"; 3) "gluten-free grain option"; 4) "encourages balanced gut microbiome"; and 5) "millet's nutritional profile." Interestingly, the producers of the video credit Donna Gates' 1995 book, "The Body Ecology Diet," with introducing millet to many in North America. Superfood Evolution, according to the video description on its YouTube channel homepage, is apparently a couple in California who produce well-researched videos on diverse and often less-familiar foods - see https://www.superfoodevolution.com/ ) * "Does Millet Help Diabetes?" The Exam Room, 27 August 2021 (19:41) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tOCZldzgbk (Interview of Dr. Hana Kahleova, Director of Clinical Research at the Washington, DC-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [PCRM], about how millets might figure in diabetes mitigation and treatment. Informative presentation, leavened by some personal stories about use of "millet" - likely proso millet given the context. The Exam Room is the podcast of the PCRM, and is hosted by Chuck Carroll; it is also available as a podcast, but this episode for some reason is not posted.) If you search online, you'll find a lot of videos on millets, many of them very good. However, videos on millets produced in the US, Canada, or Mexico, which sometimes have contextualized content and/or feature experts in the region we should know about, not very numerous. You are welcome to share any that you find interesting or useful. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

1 0

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

1 1