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Foxtail millet genome mapped
by Don Osborn 08 Mar '25

08 Mar '25

The complete genome (pan-genome) of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) has been mapped by an international team of scientists led by Prof. Xianmin Diao of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Prof. Michael Purugganan of New York University & New York University Abu Dhabi. This large-scale genomic analysis will assist research on this crop, from understanding its evolution and domestication, to breeding new varieties to help ensure food security. Three articles describe this research, but first, the research article itself: Qiang He, Sha Tang, Hui Zhi, Jinfeng Chen, et al. "A graph-based genome and pan-genome variation of the model plant Setaria." Nature Genetics 55, 1232–1242 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-023-01423-w The 3 descriptions: * "NYUAD scientists: this common crop is key in food security: Teams from three international universities, including NYU Abu Dhabi, unlock the genome of the widely-used cereal crop," by Nadine Fares Kahil, WIRED Middle East, 26 July 2024 https://wired.me/science/foxtail-millets-battle-for-food-security/ * "Chinese scientists decipher genome secrets of foxtail millet," XinhuaNet, 2023-06-09 https://english.news.cn/20230609/4cd34198a85b4d9d9e9bea6d51a1f510/c.html * "Scientists Map Complete Genome of Millet: New knowledge of ancient grain may enable breeding for climate change adaptation ," NYU (News Release), 8 June 2023 https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2023/june/millet-genome.ht… The research "also constructed the first graph-based genome sequence of *Setaria*, offering insights into genomic variation across wild and cultivated *Setaria*." (NYU) Foxtail millet is NAMA's #milletofthemonth in March. It is the second or third most cultivated of the #millets worldwide, being an important staple in parts of Asia. In North America it currently tends to be grown as a cover crop or for forage. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 38, Issue 1
by Gary Wietgrefe 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

Excellent discussion on U.S. food millets. Over 400,000 acres of proso millet grain is harvested annually in the U.S. and potentially available for use in glutin-free foods and beverages. However, until now there were no uniform grain fungibility standards in North America to segregate human millet from that used for bird and poultry feed, ethanol, mushroom, cover crops, or millet use for wild bird plots. That will change. A sixteen-page document has just been released by the North American Millets Alliance and submitted to USDA's Agricultural Marketing Services which will designate higher quality food grade proso millet from farm-to-buyer-to-processor. "Ancient Proso Millet Quality Grading Standards a Versatile Survival Grain" brochure is now available and submitted to regulators, inspectors, farmers, buyers, and seed breeders for immediate implementation. See (PDF) Ancient Proso Millet Quality Grading Standards final 021825 <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389547129_Ancient_Proso_Millet_Qua…> . Keep up this great discussion....Gary Wietgrefe On Sun, Mar 2, 2025 at 9:19 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. Sourcing proso for food (Re: Little Millet Seed Curator > Perspective) (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2025 11:18:48 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu> > Cc: "Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS" <david.brenner(a)usda.gov>, > "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: [Collab] Sourcing proso for food (Re: Little Millet Seed > Curator Perspective) > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibVVapk_S-bpBLma5QrZ-KNdGAQSLUx3oZX5_dsLnZKHhg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Thank you both for your added information on little millet and barnyard > millet. > > Regarding "food grade" grains, this could be a useful discussion. Are there > not some varieties with size or flavor characteristics that might be more > suited to food uses? "Food grade" may also be a reference to the quality of > the grain (remember Gary's proposed proso millet grain standards). > > Regarding sourcing proso for food, I used to get it from bulk bins at > stores like Whole Foods, until they stopped stocking it, or a local > independent grocer that sadly closed last year. Now I'll buy a packaged > brand, of which there are several containing US production (Eden Foods, > Anthony's, Grand Teton Ancient Grains, Bob's Red Mill, Shiloh Farms, Living > Now, and Relative Foods, to name a few), plus many more from India and > China. (Some other companies such as Arrowhead Mills markets proso millet > flour, but apparently not whole grains.) For examples of proso products, > see > https://www.pinterest.com/drdonosborn/millets-plural/proso-millet-proso/ > > Kudos to three of the American companies that give more complete > information than others on the identity of the "millet" in their respective > products. In each case, they give the species name; Eden and Grand Teton > also have alternative common names for proso - "yellow millet" & "white > millet," respectively): > * Eden Foods > > https://store.edenfoods.com/millet-organic-16-oz/?srsltid=AfmBOorL6tOIlzfn1… > * Anthony's Goods > https://anthonysgoods.com/products/anthonys-organic-hulled-millet > * Grand Teton Ancient Grains > > https://www.ancientgrains.com/shop/millet/15-lbs-organic-millet-white-hulled > > Don > > DO, EL, MI, US > NAMA > > > On Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 5:36?PM Dipak Santra <dsantra2(a)unl.edu> wrote: > > > David: > > > > > > > > I agree with you about little millet and barnyard millet. Little millet > > porridge and barnyard millet pudding are yummy. > > > > > > > > There is not separate proso millet variety for human food. I eat the same > > bird feed proso millet variety that I eat once a week as rice (same as > > traditional Indian rice) or litter & lentil soup. > > > > > > > > Dipak > > > > > > > > *From: *Collab <collab-bounces(a)lists.millets2023.space> on behalf of > > Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS via Collab < > collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > *Date: *Friday, February 28, 2025 at 3:24?PM > > *To: *Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > > *Cc: *collab(a)lists.millets2023.space <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > *Subject: *Re: [Collab] Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective > > > > *Caution:* Non-NU Email > > > > > > > > Don, > > > > > > > > Thanks for the encouragement. > > > > > > > > Little millet is fun to eat and a competitive choice for people with > > enough money to eat whatever they want to. Barnyard millet is also very > > edible. I have not tried a proso millet that was selected for human food > > use and I wonder if there is a food-proso that is better than North > > American varieties selected for high yield. > > > > > > > > I keep food millet at home in a chest freezer in the original plastic > > packages. > > > > > > > > David Brenner > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > *From:* Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > > *Sent:* Friday, February 28, 2025 12:54 PM > > *To:* Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS <david.brenner(a)usda.gov> > > *Cc:* collab(a)lists.millets2023.space <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > > *Subject:* Re: Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective > > > > > > > > Thank you, David, for these perspectives on little millet resources at > > your USDA station, and uses of its grain as food. > > > > > > > > Interesting to know of varieties that perform well in Iowa. (This Panicum > > species, of course, originated further south than its close cousin, > proso.) > > Are you aware of any experiments with little millet elsewhere in North > > America? (I understand that Dr. Raju Soolanayakanahally of Agriculture > and > > Agri-Food Canada has done some work with this millet: > > > https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-agricultural-science/scienti… > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/story-a… > > > > ) > > > > > > > > I should also mention that Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of ICRISAT, who > > course was one of our webinar presenters on proso last week, also has > done > > significant work with little millet (mainly in India). See for example: > > > > * "The Big Potential of Little Millet," by Eric Hamilton, American > Society > > of Agronomy (via Phys.org) 12 July 2021 > > https://phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-millet.html > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/phys.org/news/2021-07-big-potential-mill… > > > > > > * Vetriventhan M, Upadhyaya HD, Azevedo VCR, Allan V, Anitha S. > > "Variability and trait-specific accessions for grain yield and > nutritional > > traits in germplasm of little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth. Ex. Roem. > & > > Schult.)." Crop Science. 2021; 61: 2658?2679. > > https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527 > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20527__;!!PvXuogZ4s… > > > > > > > > > > Regarding little millet purchased in the US, I've had mixed luck. The > > first batch worked well, cooked mainly as rice or as hot cereal mixed > with > > oatmeal. THe taste I compared as closer to rice than proso's "nutty" > > flavor. The second purchase seemed a bit old and in storage (I store in > > glass jars) started turning musty. Also got a pancake mix that used > little > > millet, which was good except I found it overly sweet (due to jaggery in > > the ingredients). > > > > > > > > All the best, > > > > > > > > Don > > > > > > > > DO, EL, MI, US > > > > NAMA > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:57?PM Brenner, David (CTR) - REE-ARS < > > david.brenner(a)usda.gov> wrote: > > > > Little Millet Seed Curator Perspective > > > > > > > > The US National Plant Germplasm Collection has 211 accessions of little > > millet (Panicum sumatrense) housed at the station in Ames, Iowa. All the > > accessions originated in India. They are widely adapted; most can mature > > seeds here in Iowa. > > > > > > > > The observation data on the GRIN online database is mixed with the > related > > proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) data. * > https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdetail?type=species&id=226 > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cropdeta… > >* > > > > Most of the little millet collection was grown and imaged in the field > > here in Iowa. Images and notes are posted. > > > > Here is an example: * > https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358448 > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessio… > >* > > > > Examples of little millet accessions that are well adapted in Iowa. > > > > PI 463755 short > > > > *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358691 > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessio… > >* > > > > PI 463711 early > > > > *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1358647 > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessio… > >* > > > > > > > > I purchase Little Millet grain at a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. It > > makes a nice tabouli since the grain size is like a fine grade of bulgar > > wheat. > > > > > > > > David Brenner > > David.Brenner(a)USDA.GOV > > > > > > Or: dbrenner(a)iastate.edu > > > > > > > > Plant Introduction Station phone > > 515-294-6786 > > > > Iowa State University > > > > > > 716 Farm House Lane, Ames, IA 50011-1051 > > > > USA > > > > > > > > *https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.aspx > > < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/search.a… > >* > > ? > > > > Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega, > > Melilotus, Perilla, Portulaca, Spinacia, miscellaneous Umbelliferae, and > > the millets: Echinochloa, Panicum, and Setaria. > > > > Hatch Act NC7 Regional Project in the US National Plant Germplasm System > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely > > for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this > message > > or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the > law > > and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe > you > > have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete > > the email immediately. > > > > >

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Webinar on the genetics & breeding of proso millet, Thurs. 20 Feb.
by Don Osborn 23 Feb '25

23 Feb '25

This Thursday, February 20, at 11 am EST/8 am PST, NAMA will host a webinar with two prominent researchers on the genetics and breeding of proso millet: * Prof. Dipak Santra, Dept. of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln https://agronomy.unl.edu/santra/ * Dr. Vetriventhan Mani, Senior Genetic Resources Scientist, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) https://www.icrisat.org/public/about/team/dr-vetriventhan-mani Prof. Santra is the alternative crops breeder at the University of Nebraska. His program works on cultivar and germplasm development of existing alternative crops and developing new crops for semi-arid High Plains region. He has organized international conferences on proso (aka broomcorn) millet and millets in general. On Thursday, he will discuss "Proso Millet Breeding and Genetics Research in the USA." Dr. Mani's primary focus at ICRISAT's Genebank revolves around strategizing and conducting germplasm research to enhance the efficiency of conserving and utilizing this valuable collection. He has specialized in plant genetic resources, primarily focusing on eight dryland millets: sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, and little millet. He will present on "Proso Millet Genetic Resources Conservation and Research." Please join us for insights into genetic resources of one of the most widely-cultivated millets, and how they're being used in crop breeding: ────────── Zoom Meeting, Thurs. 20 Feb., 11 am EST / 8 am PST https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87650498139?pwd=FcrFFyWmg1NOt916ykQzyNlfwbN2UD.1 Meeting ID: 876 5049 8139 Passcode: 423770 --- One tap mobile +16694449171,,87650498139#,,,,*423770# US +16699006833,,87650498139#,,,,*423770# US (San Jose) --- Dial by your location • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 360 209 5623 US Meeting ID: 876 5049 8139 Passcode: 423770 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdojpyl4h4 ────────── Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Nutritional qualities of little millet: 3 recent articles
by Don Osborn 23 Feb '25

23 Feb '25

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense) is our millet of the month in February. Although it is in the same genus as proso millet (P. miliaceum), it is not cultivated on any scale in North America, but can be obtained in imported products.. Like other millets, it is touted for its resilience as a crop and for its nutritional qualities. And like other millets, it has its own particular characteristics .(For example, it's very high in dietary fiber.) Here are citations and abstracts for 3 research articles relating to little millet's nutritional aspects, by researchers from India, where most of its global production is concentrated. The first requires subscription, but the other two are open access. The first is from the perspective of neglected little millet crop varieties, the second considers how processing affects little millet's nutritional properties, and the third focuses on the therapeutic potential of little millet nutrients in treating obesity. 1. Debabrata Panda, Pramila Muni, Aloukika Panda, Kartik C. Lenka & Prashant K. Parida. *"Nutritional and nutraceutical richness of neglected little millet genotypes from Eastern Ghats of India: implications for breeding and food value."* *Planta* 259, 37 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-023-04314-w ABSTRACT Little millet is an important small millet native to the Indian subcontinent and their nutritional value has been underutilized compared to other cereals. Its nutritional and nutraceutical profiling is essential to integrate the plants in developmental interventions. The present study evaluated comprehensive nutritional, nutraceutical and physico-functional properties of 14 selected little millet genotypes originated from Eastern Ghats of India and compared them with an improved variety (OLM 208) of the locality. The proximate compositions (per 100 g) showed significant variations, with moisture content ranging from 4.13 to 8.48 g, ash from 1.90 to 5.15 g, fat from 2.35 to 5.74 g, protein from 10.46 to 13.83 g, carbohydrate from 70.92 to 77.89 g, fiber from 2.03 to 7.82 g and energy from 372.8 to 391.1 kcal. These little millet flours are rich in phenol 5.37–12.73 mg/g, flavonoid 1.06–8.25 µg/g, vitamin C 12.72–22.86 µg/g, antioxidants 7.22–23.17%, iron 20.38 to 61.60 mg/ kg and zinc 17.47 to 37.59 mg/ kg. The first two components of principal component analysis capture 73.0% of the total variation, which reflected huge variability among the investigated genotypes. Maximum heritability and genetic advance were recorded in flavonoid, fiber, iron, zinc, phenol and vitamin C across the populations. Taken together, some indigenous little millet genotypes such as Mami, Kalia and Bada, were exceptionally rich in fiber, protein, energy, flavonoid, vitamin C and antioxidants and are nutritionally superior compared to other varieties from the locality. These nutrition rich little millet genotypes have ample opportunities for future breeding programs to enhance the cereal quality and hold great potential in food industry for making high value functional foods. 2. Annu Kumari, Pardeep Kumar Sadh, Ajay Kamboj, Babli Yadav, Anil Kumar, S. Sivakumar, Surekha, Baljeet Singh Saharan, Basanti Brar, Chhaya Goyal, Sanju Bala Dhull, and Joginder Singh Duhan,* "Exploring the Benefits of Nutrition of Little Millet: Unveiling the Effect of Processing Methods on Bioactive Properties,"* *Journal of Food Biochemistry*, 2025, 2488816, 25 pages, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/2488816 ABSTRACT "Many terrible illnesses and disorders that modern man is dealing with today were not even known to ancient man. The only factor contributing to this disastrous situation is dietary habits. Thus, by avoiding and controlling them, replacing meals high in empty calories with nutrient-dense millets helps to alleviate the combined burden of contemporary metabolic illnesses and malnutrition. Because millet contains various nutrients, including proteins, minerals, lipids, vitamins, phytochemicals, dietary fiber, and complex carbohydrates, it positively impacts the immune system. Among whole millets, little millet (Panicum sumatrense) is one nutritious millet that contributes significantly to the supply of macro- and micronutrients and bioactive substances, including phenols, tannins, and phytates. However, some processing techniques, such as germination, fermentation, milling, and extrusion, impact little millet’s nutrients and bioactive chemicals by increasing or decreasing these phytochemicals. These nutrients and bioactive substances have physiological and beneficial properties related to health, such as weight management, antioxidants, antidiabetics, anticancer, antiobesity, and cardiovascular disease potential. It is also beneficial in preventing the risk of inflammatory, antirheumatic, and chronic disorders, as it possesses various value-added bioactive compounds such as kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin. Little millet also contains some antinutrients such as tannins, oxalate, trypsin inhibitors, and phytate. These substances bind to the necessary nutrients, rendering them unavailable or limiting their utilization. The nutrients, processing effects, bioactive compounds, and health advantages of these compounds in little millet are all summarized in this paper." 3. Lakhani Komal G., Hamid Rasmeih, Gupta Sheetal, Prajapati Poojaben, Prabha Ratna, Patel Saumya, and Suthar Kirankumar P., *"Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of millet in obesity through molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and dynamic simulation,"* *Frontiers in Nutrition*, Vol. 11, 2024 URL= https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1… DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1453819 ISSN=2296-861X ABSTRACT "Obesity, a prevalent global health concern, is characterized by excessive fat accumulation, which confers significant nutritional and health risks, including a shortened lifespan and diminished wellbeing. Central to the regulation of energy balance and food intake is the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein, which modulates the interplay between caloric consumption and energy expenditure. Given its pivotal role in obesity regulation, the identification of effective inhibitors targeting the FTO protein is imperative for developing therapeutic interventions. Currently available anti-obesity drugs are often plagued by undesirable side effects. In contrast, natural plant-derived bioactive compounds are gaining prominence in the pharmaceutical industry due to their efficacy and lower incidence of adverse effects. Little Millet, a traditional cereal known for its rich nutritional profile and high satiety index, was investigated in this study using molecular docking and dynamics simulation approach for its potential as an anti-obesity agent. Our research demonstrates that four bioactive compounds from Little Millet exhibit superior binding energies ranging from 7.22 to 8.83 kcal/mol, compared to the standard anti-obesity drug, orlistat, which has a binding energy of 5.96 kcal/mol. These compounds fulfilled all drug-like criteria, including the Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge rules, and exhibited favorable profiles in terms of distribution, metabolism, and prolonged half-life without toxicity. Conversely, orlistat was associated with hepatotoxicity, a reduced half-life, and multiple violations of drug-likeness parameters, undermining its efficacy. Molecular dynamics simulations and Gibbs free energy assessments revealed that the four identified compounds maintain stable interactions with key residues in the FTO protein’s active site. We propose further validation through extensive In vitro, In vivo, and clinical studies to ascertain the therapeutic potential of these compounds in combating obesity." -- Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US North American Millets Alliance

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Notes re NAMA communication strategy
by Don Osborn 19 Feb '25

19 Feb '25

Here's a quick review of three (or four) elements in our approach to communications: Firist, a number of subscribers to this list - Collab - are also on our mailing list, compiled mainly of people who registered for the IYM2023 Millets Webinars. This list of almost 700 contacts was put together by our former colleague, NAMA co-founder Jonathon Landeck. We have just entered that list of contacts into the new NAMA account with Audienceful.com. The purpose is to facilitate its appropriate and limited use for communication about key activities of NAMA and major news about millets in North America. A mailing just went out to that list today regarding the upcoming Feb 20 Millets Webinar. That also included a note about our dedication to the security of your data, and Audienceful's privacy and GDPR policies. Secod, the Collab list is intended as a discussion list, of course, and a place for deeper dives into various topics about millets. It also features announcements of events, sometimes as early notices. The number of subscribers on Collab is almost 90 people. And third, we also maintain an active page on LinkedIn that has over 1200 followers. There we also feature announcements of events, and a selection of general interest items on millets that also go to Collab. So altho there is some overlap among these three - the mailing list, Collab, and the LinkedIn page - they serve complementary purposes in our communication strategy. NAMA also has a Facebook group, but we haven't done much with it since 2023. If you use FB regularly, and would like to become active on that group, that would be helpful. https://www.facebook.com/groups/243364207975357 Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Millets Webinar, 20 Feb. 2025 (Save the date!)
by Don Osborn 13 Feb '25

13 Feb '25

We're pleased to inform you all that the next Millets Webinar in our 2025 series will feature Prof. Dipak Santra, of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Dr. Vetriventhan Mani of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). These distinguished guests will each share insights into their work on proso millet breeding and genetics. This will be on Thursday 20 February at 11 am EST / 8 am PST. Additional information, including the Zoom connection details is coming. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Quantifying global production of grain millets by crop
by Don Osborn 10 Feb '25

10 Feb '25

Trying to get clear current estimates of global production of various millets is not easy. First of all, current statistics gathered by USDA and by FAOSTAT collapse all millets ("grains surname millet") under a single "millet" category. Secondly, some of the sources that have figures on production of one or another or several millets are two or three decades old. Then there are sources that are behind paywalls. In any event, from some research on the matter, I got the impression several years ago that the production levels of the main 4 or 5 (including sorghum) millets followed this pattern: Sorghum, alone, had double the production - around 60 million metric tons (MT) per year - of all the other millets combined - around 30 million MT/yr. Pearl millet then had half that amount, or around 15 million MT. The remainder was split among - in order - foxtail millet, proso millet, finger millet, and all the rest. Figures for the rest might be on local and national levels but might take some time to aggregate. Anyway, I put together a list of some sources with estimates, below. These are for millets (without sorghum), pearl millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and finger millet. Although these are from different times and sources, they tend to support the proportions indicated above: MILLETS, TOGETHER, WITHOUT SORGHUM (28-31 million MT?) "The annual world production of millets accounts for about 30,463,642 t." Pexová Kalinová J, Tříska J, Hořejší K. "Comparison of the Main Constituents in Two Varieties of Proso Millet Using GC-MS." *Foods*. 2023 Jun 7;12(12):2294. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12122294 . PMID: 37372504; PMCID: PMC10297711. Quoting in footnote, FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations, Rome. [(accessed on 30 July 2022)]. Available online: https://fenix.fao.org/faostat/internal/en/#data/QCL. "Millet 2024. World Production: 31,073 (1000 MT) (PS&D Online updated 01/2025)" USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, FAS Home / IPAD Home / Crop Explorer / Commodity Explorer / Millet (accessed 8 Feb. 2025) https://ipad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer/cropview/commodityView.aspx?cropid=0… "Developing countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, account for about 94 percent of global output, estimated at some 28 million tons (1992-94 average, Table 1). Of this, pearl millet accounts for about 15 million tons, foxtail millet for 5 million tons, proso millet for 4 million tons and finger millet for over 3 million tons." The World Sorghum and Millet Economies: Facts, Trends and Outlook, FAO & ICRISAT, 1996 https://www.fao.org/4/w1808e/w1808e0c.htm PEARL MILLET (15-18 million MT?) "Pearl millet accounts for almost half of global millet production." "The Global Agro-Ecological Zoning, version 4. Crop profile: Pearl and Foxtail millets" https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/data.gaezdev.aws.fao.org/crop_profiles/G… (accessed 8 Feb. 2025; this is apparently connected with https://gaez.fao.org/ ) "According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in 2019, global pearl millet production was approximately 17.9 million metric tons." "Pearl millet," by Lynette Abbott, Cultivation December 8, 2024 https://cultivationag.com/pearl-millet/ FOXTAIL MILLET (5-6 million MT?) "Total production of foxtail millet is around 5.7 × 10^6 t of grain per year" M.I. Gomez, S.C. Gupta, "Millets," in B. Caballero, ed., *Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition* (2nd Ed.), Academic Press, 2003, Pages 3974-3979, ISBN 9780122270550, https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00791-4. ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012227055X007914) This article is reproduced from *Encyclopaedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition*, Copyright 1993, Academic Press. PROSO MILLET (4-5 million MT?) "Proso ranks third after pearl millet and foxtail millet in terms of total global millet production, about 5 × 10^6 t of grain per year." M.I. Gomez, S.C. Gupta, "Millets," in B. Caballero, ed., *Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition* (2nd Ed.), Academic Press, 2003, Pages 3974-3979, ISBN 9780122270550, https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00791-4. ( https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012227055X007914) This article is reproduced from *Encyclopaedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition*, Copyright 1993, Academic Press. FINGER MILLET (3-5 million MT?) "With an estimated global annual planting area of 4-4.5 million hectares and a total production of 5 million tons of grain, finger millet plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security and sustenance for millions of people." "Finger Millet: A Story of Health. Crop Chronicles: 13 Nov 2024," Crop Trust, https://www.croptrust.org/story-articles/finger-millet-a-story-of-health/ If you have any other sources or figures for any of the above, please let us know. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Millets & satiety (feeling full longer) - a review of research
by Don Osborn 05 Feb '25

05 Feb '25

One less-discussed benefit of millets seems to be that we feel full longer after eating them than is the case with other grains. A review article last year discusses the mechanisms of this and the health implications: Anitha Seetha, Shweta Upadhyay, and Joanna Kane-Potaka, "Millets have the potential to increase satiety and reduce the feeling of hunger: a systematic review," Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Vol. 8, 3 June 2024 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3… According to the article * "Millet-based food stays longer in the stomach, thereby prolonging the feeling of satiety or fullness." * This may be due to "millets’ richness in fiber ... increasing gastric volume and prolonging gastric emptying time" * And this, in turn, delays glucose response and lowers the blood lipid profile The attached diagram, which is Figure 2 from the article, illustrates the "Proposed mechanism of action of millets on satiety and other health parameters." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Dealing with bitterness in millets
by Don Osborn 04 Feb '25

04 Feb '25

Millets sometimes have a bitter aftertaste. What are the causes and how to deal with them? We had a short discussion offline, and Gary Wietgrefe's thoughts with regard to proso in particular wee detailed and specific. I'll copy them in a reply to this email, for your information. First, if I may, I personally haven't noticed problems with the millets I consume, apart from one batch of little millet (our millet-of-the-month in February, by the way) which became musty - I think the batch was a bit old to begin with. In any event, bitterness is an issue that consumers do bring up, and it stands in the way of wider use and acceptance of any grain or food (apart from those always bitter by nature, like bitter melon). In millets, bitterness may be related to issues like premature harvest or poor grain quality. In some cases, I understand that the variety or cultivar of a millet may be naturally more bitter than other varieties of the same grain. Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA

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Proso millet & soil health (3 research articles)
by Don Osborn 31 Jan '25

31 Jan '25

Passing on Gary Wietgrefe's short reviews of three research articles on proso millet and soil health in crop rotations: Thank you, Gary, for this insightful analysis! DO, EL, MI, US NAMA *Proso Agronomy Topics*, January 6, 2025, Gary Wietgrefe Three research articles in the Nov/Dec issue of Crops & Soils magazine indicate where proso millet can support soil health in crop rotations. Members of the American Society of Agronomy and Certified Crop Advisors have access to the full articles, or they can be purchased through Wiley's on-line library. (Abstracts attached.) *Black-Eyed Pea in the High Plains* highlights Colorado research rotations with wheat and proso millet. Being a drought hardy and short growing season legume, black-eyed peas can provide a nitrogen-supplying legume in the two grass crop rotations. "...A plant-to-harvest time of ~95 days (and) the short growing season makes it very competitive with proso millet acres. It allows farmers to plant winter wheat immediately following black-eyed pea harvest if moisture allows." See Library <https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/crso.20404?af=R> https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/crso.20404?af=R *Potential Blind Spots and Hot Spots for Nutrient Loss* article details how nutrients (especially phosphorus and nitrogen) can be carried by water and lost, or concentrated in prairie potholes. In the 1950s and '60s we planted foxtail and proso millet in potholes that were too wet when cool-season spring wheat, oats, and barley were planted. Located in the pothole region of north central South Dakota, we used millets (for forage, grain, and grazing) which could be planted up to late June to utilize pothole nutrients and moisture. Rose Tirlalistyani, Iowa State U., "...Led work on assessing nutrient flow through farmed prairie potholes..(and) differences between how nitrogen and phosphorous behave in potholes...(where) phosphorus may increase over time as the pothole continues to be inundated." See https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/crso.20410. *Understanding the Mineral Nutrient Value of Wheat Residue* evaluates nutrients carried from soil by harvesting wheat straw "...(that) contains a good deal of nitrogen and secondary macronutrients, and micronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, and Mn)...(which) can have a high (replacement) cost when they are applied as fertilizers." In the 1980s and '90s my research with direct seeding crops, like proso millet, into wheat stubble (and vise-versa) increased crop moisture, decreased wind and water erosion, increased soil organic matter, decreased wind at soil-level, lowered summertime topsoil temperature, decreased weeds in germination zone, and increased yields of all rotational crops. This article is available for free at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385281865_Understanding_the_Minera… . Proso millet should be in a minimum of a three-crop rotation (at least one broadleaf), cropped or double-cropped to take advantage of underutilized nutrients especially where summer moisture is limited, and directly seeded into the previous crops stubble....Gary Wietgrefe (Certified Crop Advisor--retired, and member of the American Society of Agronomy)

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