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Kodo millet & mycotoxin risk (news item re an elephant herd)
by Don Osborn 04 Nov '24

04 Nov '24

A current news item concerns the death of wild elephants in Madhya Pradesh, India due evidently to mycotoxin-contaminated kodo millet. Here is an article that does a good job of examining this issue: "How consumption of kodo millet led to the death of 10 elephants in MP," by Anand Mohan J, *The Indian Express*, 4 Nov. 2024 https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/kodo-millet-death-elephants-965… Kodo (*Paspalum scrobiculatum*) has been associated with cases of a parasitic fungal endophyte that leads to production of the mycotoxin, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). This is favored by rain or moisture during the process of harvest and post-harvest handling. Kodo is consumed safely by many people (I've had some packaged from India), and thankfully cases of CPA poisoning appear to be rare. The article discusses ways to detect or control fungal development and mycotoxin secretion. I have not seen any discussion of the condition of the kodo that the elephants consumed. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 34, Issue 1
by Esther Shekinah 03 Nov '24

03 Nov '24

IIMR is a research institute funded by the Govt of India, one of the many crop-based research institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The mandate of the institute is to research only/ all millet crops. Thanks, Esther Esther S Durairaj, PhD Education Director/ Research Agronomist Michael Fields Agricultural Institute www.michaelfields.org Office: 262-642-3303, Ext. 112 Cell: 614-441-2125 -----Original Message----- From: Collab <collab-bounces(a)lists.millets2023.space> On Behalf Of collab-request(a)lists.millets2023.space Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2024 7:00 AM To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space Subject: Collab Digest, Vol 34, Issue 1 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. GSA Global Millets Expo, Purdue University, 5-6 Dec. 2024 (Don Osborn) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2024 23:17:52 -0400 From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space Subject: [Collab] GSA Global Millets Expo, Purdue University, 5-6 Dec. 2024 Message-ID: <CA+RHibX0V8Cf3LKzK7kBq92UccafOeg7eg1npajZcv-ELh3ZtA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" The GSA Global Millets Expo at Purdue, originally scheduled for early November was moved back to 5-6 December 2024. Unfortunately it is already too late to register, but if anyone on the list will be attending, it would be most interesting to hear how it goes.. The webpage is the same as before, with new information on location etc., but no details on the program (when accessed today, 11/1): https://ag.purdue.edu/events/department/foodsci/2024/11/gsa-global-millets-… I did some digging to find out more. First of all, the conference sponsors indicated by logos on the flyer are: * Fusion Systems and Services (Schaumberg, IL) https://fusionsystemsinc.com * Global Eye International Institute of Leadership NFP (address in Chicago) https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-4298548 ; (launched in NY) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt9W-3GS8c0 * Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) https://www.millets.res.in/ * Amaze Foods LLC (a US-based company that appears to have been recently founded by Naveenchandra Karna, per mention in the digital monthly, Global Eye, #44, 23 Oct. 2024, p. 25 https://globaleyedigital.com/Newspaper/2024/44/GE-44.pdf ) * GSA Global Eye (a monthly digital newsmagazine with subscribers in India & North America) https://globaleyedigital.com/ ** (GSA is apparently Global Strategic Associates, per https://www.facebook.com/theglobaleye/ , altho the editor of Global Eye, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar also is connected with Global Strategic Alliance, Inc. in Chicago https://www.alignable.com/chicago-il/global-strategic-alliance-inc-chicago-… ) Further background on this event, including the role of Prof. Senay Simsek, Food Science, Purdue University, can be read in an article entitled "Turkish American Woman Breaks the Ceiling in the Academic World of Food Sciences," featured in the same edition of Global Eye mentioned above (#44, 23 Oct. 2024, p. 20, https://globaleyedigital.com/Newspaper/2024/44/GE-44.pdf ). An excerpt from the article pertaining to the conference is copied below, again, for your info: "Embrace the Future of Food at the GSA Global Millet Expo 2024! "Join us for the GSA GLOBAL MILLET EXPO 2024, hosted by SENAY SIMSEK at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana in collaboration with The Global Eye International Institute For Leadership NFP, Chicago, Illinois on December 5th and 6th, 2024! THIS EXPO WILL GIVE THE MANUFACTURERS OF MILLET PRODUCTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS AND EXPLORE COLLABORATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH AMERICA"S TOP 20 FOOD MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS WITH PURDUE"S FOOD SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. This extraordinary event will unite researchers, industry leaders, and enthusiasts to explore millet's potential as a superfood and its role in sustainable agriculture. Attendees will engage in enlightening discussions, discover groundbreaking research, and foster collaboration to address global challenges like food insecurity and climate change. Don?t miss this chance to be part of a movement that champions healthy eating and innovative farming practices. "Register now at gsaglobalmilletsexpo(a)gmail.com and help cultivate a sustainable future through the power of food!" This conference at Purdue seems most notable for the participation of the IIMR, an institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), that we understand is getting substantial funding from the government of India. One lesson I get from researching the other sponsors of this event, is that we may expect interesting initiatives on millets from entities we have not previously encountered. More as we learn about it... Don DO, EL, MI, US NAMA On Sat, Sep 7, 2024 at 1:05?AM Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> wrote: > Just came across a webpage for this event - GSA Global Millets Expo, > at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, on 8-9 November. (in > 2 months' time): > > https://ag.purdue.edu/events/department/foodsci/2024/11/gsa-global-mil > lets-expo.html > > GSA probably stands for Graduate Students Association. The event page > is under the Department of Food Science (of the College of Agriculture > at Purdue). A forward link to registration is apparently forthcoming. > > The description on the webpage:(copied below) does not include any > details about the program > > "Welcome to the Global Millets Expo at Purdue University, a premier > event uniting government bodies, universities and key stakeholders > from around the world to elevate the global presence and availability > of millet, a group of ancient grains with deep roots in African and Asian agriculture. > These small-seeded grasses are not only highly nutritious but also > incredibly resilient, thriving in harsh climates with minimal water > compared to traditional staples like wheat and rice. As the world > faces growing challenges in food security, sustainable agriculture, > and malnutrition, millets offer a promising solution. This expo aims > to harness the rising global interest in these climate-resilient and > gluten-free grains, particularly in regions like the United States, > where millet has been underutilized. Join us in exploring the immense > potential of millet to revolutionize agriculture and contribute to a > more sustainable and secure food future." > > Does anyone know more about this? Or have contacts at Purdue - Food > Science who might be able to provide more info? > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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Article in Mother Jones
by Don Osborn 21 Oct '24

21 Oct '24

A very nice article spotlighting millets is featured in the Nov.-Dec. 2024 issue of Mother Jones. Entitled “Against the Grain: What to Eat When the World Dries Up: It’s time to pay attention to foods that will thrive as the climate changes,” and written by Miranda Lipton, it features quotes by Amrita Hazra (The Millet Project), Chef Pierre Thiam (Yolélé), and NAMA co-founder, Jonathon Landeck. https://www.motherjones.com/food/2024/10/millet-fonio-drought-climate-chang… DO, EL, MI, US NAMA

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Two videos on kodo millet
by Don Osborn 20 Oct '24

20 Oct '24

Here are links to a couple of short videos on kodo millet. Both are from India: "Domestication of Kodo millet (Paspalum)," Genomics Lab, 20 Nov. 2020 (5:41) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBJEMF5TcDc (This is fast paced with some very basic info and some more advanced. Pay attention! From info given at the end, it seems to have been produced for a class.) "All That You Need To Know About Kodo Millet | Dr Sarala," Millet Magic, 21 Feb. 2021 (9:15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmC7qy-98Vc (This video also has info on the historical background of kodo, the growing of this crop, preparation for cooking, and then much discussion of purported health benefits. This could easily have been a podcast instead, as the video itself is mostly just the presenter talking.) Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Suppliers & buyers of millets (expandable spreadsheet)
by Don Osborn 20 Oct '24

20 Oct '24

Attached is an Excel spreadsheet with information on outfits involved with proso millet in wholesale. These apparently include everything from farmer coop grain elevators to seed suppliers to import/export outfits. It is modified in format from a one-page document Joni shared a couple of weeks ago, and includes additional info such as websites, and an attempt to characterize the nature of the various organizations (right hand columns). It turns out that the info on the sheet Joni shared was already online in an earlier version (dated 03/02/2020) at https://ag.colorado.gov/sites/ag/files/documents/Colorado%20Millet%20Suppli… . This spreadsheet version is a draft, and most importantly, it is intended to be something that we can expand, if there is interest in so doing. I am not aware of any existing directory of organizations working with millets from harvest through trade to processing and marketing. A spreadsheet of course has the versatility to be converted to a database on the one hand, or dropped in part or whole into text documents as a table(s) on the other hand. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Joanna Kane-Potaka on the Regenerative by Design podcast (10/10/24)
by Don Osborn 19 Oct '24

19 Oct '24

Joni, I hope you won't mind my posting about your recent Regenerative by Design Podcast episode in which you interviewed Joanna Kane-Potaka. Entitled "Unlocking the Power of Millets in Regenerative Agriculture with Joanna Kane-Potaka" (10 Oct. 2024; 45 min), I'd highly recommend it for anyone interested in millets: * (Apple) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/unlocking-the-power-of-millets-in/id1… * (Regenerative by Design homepage, which has links to other podcast platforms) https://www.regenbydesign.info/ As most of the readers of Collab know, Joanna is an international strategic marketing expert and smarter foods evangelist. She has recently served as Deputy Director General for Strategy, Engagement, and Impact at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and before that as Assistant Director General for External Relations at the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). She also serves as executive director of the Choosing Smarter Foods initiative. The podcast interview is a lively and wide-ranging conversation between two women with notable expertise on millets and crop/food diversity, globally and in North America. Topics covered include, for example: * Joanna's background * Some of the back story to India's proposal for the International Year of Millets (2023) * marketing of millets - successes & challenges * the "smarter foods" concept and importance of staples * processing capacity as a limitation on bringing millets to market * nutritional variation among millets, and need for research on this * farmer interest in millets and crop diversity generally * adaptation of various millets to diverse agro-ecologies, and again, need for research on this * the crop research cycle, which has tended to favor development of a small number of major cereal crops * prospects for the future On the topic of smart(er) foods (good for health, good for farmers, and good for the environment), you may also be interested in a statement on the occasion of World Food Day (10/16) by Joanna and Dr. Raj Kumar Bhandari. It's entitled "How we can progress towards smarter food systems": https://www.governancenow.com/views/columns/how-we-can-progress-towards-sma… Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Kodo millet as a promising forage crop, 1895
by Don Osborn 18 Oct '24

18 Oct '24

Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum), also known as ricegrass paspalum, is our millet-of-the-month. It is both a crop, notably in India, where its grains are used for food, and a weed, actually considered noxious in some locations in the US and elsewhere. For historical interest, here's mention of kodo as a promising forage crop in 1895. This item was apparently syndicated and run verbatim in a number of local newspapers beginning in early 1895 until 1897. The below is the earliest I saw: "Experiments conducted at the Alabama Experiment Station with Ragi millet, Eleusine coracana, and Kodo millet, a species of Paspallum, both obtained from the Madras Presidency, seem to prove that these plants will make good pasture crops for cows and other stock, and also be profitable hay-producing plants in the Southern States." ("Notes," Dowagiac Times [Michigan], 21 Feb. 1895, page 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1095765279/?match=1&terms=%22kodo%20millet… A more complete search would use other terms for the plant, but it is also interesting that this appears to be the earliest use of the term "kodo millet" in English language press in North America. There are not many other mentions that I find via Newspapers.com. The most recent is from 2016, and mentions a presentation on millets our friend and colleague Prof. Dipak Santra, in July of that year: "July 21 seminar to cover millets, India," Star-Herald / Farm & Ranch, 17 July 2016, page 29 https://www.newspapers.com/image/989992896/?match=1&terms=%22kodo%20millet%… Returning to the syndicated 1895 item, I do not know its source. Also, it appears to be the earliest reference to finger millet using the name "ragi." Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 33, Issue 1
by gww374＠gmail.com 12 Oct '24

12 Oct '24

Yes, the Taiwan repatriation does seem similar to reintroducing proso to Mongolia and Turkey, except I sent varieties developed by Nebraska, which may, or may not have had ancestral lines from early 20th-century Asia…..Gary Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 7, 2024, at 6:01 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. Shade tolerance in millets (example of foxtail millet) > (Don Osborn) > 2. Re: Shade tolerance in millets (example of foxtail millet) > (Joni Kindwall-Moore) > 3. Millet culture & cuisine in Taiwan, & repatriation of foxtail > millet (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2024 10:37:13 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Shade tolerance in millets (example of foxtail > millet) > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibW+FAfhk5_h3insRvVyUG_ixip-E1EnYKx9M0MeXd0msQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > In a recent posting about browntop millet, I noted a mention of that > millet's apparent shade tolerance.* This trait is not something I've seen > discussed for any grain before - and my assumption was that one always grew > grains in full sunlight. > > Well, I have since come across this study of shade tolerance in foxtail > millet, where it is grown in an agroforestry system with Chinese chestnut: > Liu Dan, Cui Yanjiao, Zhao Zilong, Zhang Jing, Li Suying and Liu Zhengli. > 2022. "Transcriptome analysis and mining of genes related to shade > tolerance in foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.)." Royal > Society Open Science. 9:220953 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220953 > > Is this a trait that appears in millets other than browntop and foxtail? > > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance > > Note: > * > https://lists.millets2023.space/pipermail/collab/2024-September/000648.html >

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Food Tank on millets
by Don Osborn 12 Oct '24

12 Oct '24

There are various food and ag focused US-based food and agriculture policy organizations. One prominent one - Food Tank - has on its website - https://foodtank.com/ - various articles on or relating to millets. Most of these are a few years old, but still of interest. For example: MILLET(S) * "Millets and Sorghum: Forgotten Foods for the Future," by Madelyn Vital (April 2018) https://foodtank.com/news/2018/04/icrisat-millets-sorghum-forgotten-foods-f… Nice overview article including quotes from friend of NAMA, Joanna Kane-Potaka, who was then with ICRISAT as Director of Strategic Marketing and Communication. For lists of articles tagged "millet" or "millets" (there is some overlap of the two), see: - "millet" (9 articles, 2018-2023) https://foodtank.com/news/tag/millet/ - "millets" (12 articles, 2018-2023) https://foodtank.com/news/tag/millets/ SORGHUM * "Op-Ed | Flour Power: The Strength and Sustainability of Sorghum," by Angela Garbacz (Nov. 2023) https://foodtank.com/news/2023/11/op-ed-flour-power-the-strength-and-sustai… A pastry shop owner in Nebraska who uses sorghum flour writes of its qualities and the importance of crop diversity and cover crops. She sees a role for chefsto "steer the conversation, as well as farmers' practices, toward regenerative agriculture..." For a list of 11 articles tagged sorghum (2017-2023), see https://foodtank.com/news/tag/sorghum/ FONIO * "The Small Seed Changing West Africa," Food Tank (April 2018) https://foodtank.com/news/2018/04/philip-teverow-fonion-seed-africa/ This is an interview by Katherine Walla of Philip Teverow, co-founder of Yolélé (with Pierre Thiam). Philip Teverow gives some background on fonio, the founding of Yolélé, and the considerations that went into developing the business. Also some discussion of future considerations (still valid today). I'd read this article in tandem with James Courtright's feature article, "The Fonio Revival" (Roads & Kingdoms / Slate Magazine, 26 Nov. 2017), which sheds light on what was happening with fonio in West Africa that prepared the way for Yolélé and other exporters of fonio. https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2017/the-fonio-revival/ Back to Food Tank, for a list of 5 pieces tagged fonio (2014-2023), see https://foodtank.com/news/tag/fonio/ TEFF * "Opinion | Can a 200 Year Old Farm Pivot from Cash Crops to Ancient Grains?" by Claire Smith (April 2019) https://foodtank.com/news/2019/04/opinion-can-a-200-year-old-farm-pivot-fro… As has been mentioned on this list previously, Claire is the founder of Teffola, and her family farm in Michigan produces teff, largely for Teffola products. This article is her story about that business. (This is the only item tagged teff on the Food Tank site) Claire's article is apparently the only one tagged "teff," but a Google advanced search turned up another, general, article about teff on the Food Tank site: * "Indigenous Crop: Teff- Ancient Crop with Modern Potential," by Brett Aronson (Feb. 2014) https://foodtank.com/news/2014/02/indigenous-crop-ancient-crop-with-modern-… For more background on Food Tank, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_Tank Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Millet(s) identification: What is in these 2 packages?
by Don Osborn 12 Oct '24

12 Oct '24

Attached is a photo of a pair of clear packages of millet(s), side-by-side. The main language on the packages is Chinese, and since these are intended for market in the US, there is also some English. These were seen recently on the shelves of a local store specializing in Chinese and other international foods. Here are two questions about the packages, for which you will not need to read Chinese (and the English text won't help): 1. Which millet or millets appear to be in the packages? 2. Do the grains in the two packages look the same or different? After a while, I'll offer my take, but wanted to get your expert opinions, as best as you can tell from what is provided. I can forward the full-sized image (20 MB) offlist to anyone who wants to zoom in. TIA, Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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