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Foxtail millet in China - map, varieties, & a new record
by Don Osborn 30 Mar '25

30 Mar '25

Despite its specific name - Setaria italica - foxtail millet was domesticated in China, millennia ago. Like millets elsewhere in the world, it became less favored by farmers and agricultural planners until a recent rebound. In our March 2023 Millets Webinar, Prof. Francesca Bray gave some very interesting insights into this resurgence of interest in China (proso as well as foxtail, but many examples were the latter) - https://youtu.be/IUeLldImLzE (from about 26:50). Here are some recent items with more information on the agronomic side of renewed attention to foxtail millet. These discuss landraces and newer cultivars, overall increase in productivity, and two recent varieties that are currently getting attention: 1. First, a map showing locations of different groups of landraces of foxtail millet in China: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-the-collection-locations-of-Chin… . This is from the article: Guanqing Jia, et al, "Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Chinese Foxtail Millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] Landraces," G3 Genes Genomes Genetics · July 2012 DOI: 10.1534/g3.112.002907 . I won' try to summarize the research here, but would note that it involved genotypic analysis of 250 landraces. I thought this was a good way to look at the diversity of this millet in the land of its origin. 2. Second, an article mentions 870 cultivars of foxtail millet released in China since 1950: Diao, Xianmin. (2016). "Production and genetic improvement of minor cereals in China." The Crop Journal. 5. 10.1016/j.cj.2016.06.004. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305628211_Production_and_genetic_i… 3. Another article notes that new varieties, mechanization, and improved cultivation technology have resulted in a twenty-fold increase in production capacity of foxtail millet: LI ShunGuo, LIU Fei, LIU Meng, CHENG RuHong, XIA EnJun, DIAO XianMin. "Current Status and Future Prospective of Foxtail Millet Production and Seed Industry in China." Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 2021, 54(3): 459-470. https://www.chinaagrisci.com/EN/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2021.03.001 4. A comparative analysis of traditional and modern varieties of foxtail millet is offered in another article: Ke Ma, Xiangyang Yuan, Zheng Jia, Huayu Lu, Xiangyang Chen, Xinya Wen, and Fu Chen, "Changes in the grain quality of foxtail millet released in China from the 1970s to the 2020s," Food Research International, Vol. 209, May 2025, 116316 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116316 (abstract and beginning only are accessible without subscription). This article offers the following key points before the abstract: * Old foxtail millet varieties had large grains, high nutritional value, sweet and fruity flavor. * Modern foxtail millet varieties are bright yellow, soft, easy to cook, and flavorful. * Transitional foxtail millet variety possesses the advantages to both. * There is a compensation between the nutritional quality and the organoleptic quality [i.e., sensory properties like taste] of foxtail. * Breeders should pay attention to effectively utilize the quality advantages of the J21. [This may possibly be the "Jingu 21" variety, but that would be explained in the body of the article] 5. Another team of authors led by the lead author of the previous article, Ke Ma, had earlier written about the performance of the Jingu 21 variety: Ke Ma, Lirong Zhao, Xiatong Zhao, Xiaorui Li, Shuqi Dong, Liguang Zhang, Pingyi Guo, Xiangyang Yuan, and Xianmin Diao, "The relationship between ecological factors and commercial quality of high-quality foxtail millet 'Jingu 21'," Food Research International, Vol. 163, 2023, 112225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112225. (abstract and limited selections only are accessible without subscription). 6. Finally, a report that a new variety of foxtail millet - "Zhonggu 25" - has achieved a remarkable yield level of over 9 tons per hectare (almost 140 bushels/acre): "China's new foxtail millet variety sets summer yield record," Xinhua (via News.cn), 16 Sep. 2024 https://english.news.cn/20240916/5ed85a5713fc423faa24fae1eda25bad/c.html Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Millets in Woman's Day article
by Don Osborn 26 Mar '25

26 Mar '25

Came across this item on whole grains from Women's Day magazine: "14 Healthy Whole Grains, and How to Enjoy Them Right Now," by Becca Miller, Women's Day, 1 Aug. 2024 https://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/nutrition/g61731047/healthy-grains/ ... which has also been recently remixed on MSN as a series of panels: "The Healthiest Whole Grains to Try, According to an R.D." https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/diet/the-healthiest-whole-grains-to-try-ac… It's in the genre of articles one sees from time to time listing various grains, perhaps including millets, and offering short takes with photos on each. This article's treatment of "millet" under #7 merits attention as the author makes the effort to cover the diversity of grains with this name - specifically fonio, pearl millet, and finger millet. Sorghum and teff are treated separately on this list. Excerpts from the article regarding millets are copied below. My comments follow. 7) Millet There are several varieties of this little round gluten-free grain that you may see in stores, such as fonio, pearl, and finger. One cup of millet also boasts 25% of the daily value of phosphorus for women over 19, which, along with calcium, helps to maintain healthy and strong bones and teeth. Studies have shown that the consumption of millet can help to prevent chronic diseases in those who enjoy it regularly. Dig into a bowl of millet in a delicious breakfast porridge, which will start your day off with 11 grams of protein. 12) Sorghum Popular in Indian and West African cooking, sorghum is less common to find in your grocery store (but easy to order online!). Sorghum is an impressive whole grain both for its health benefits and its environmental benefits. Scientists have explored this crop as one that can grow extremely well in drought conditions, making it a potentially popular option as climate change continues to warm the planet and cause more widespread drought. Like other grains, sorghum is high in protein and fiber. Studies also show that sorghum is high in polyphenols, which can aid in preventing cancers as well as oxidative stress, which may speed up aging. To prep, cook as you would quinoa, or pop on the stove like you would popcorn. 14) Teff Find this tiny grain in its whole form or ground into flour—the main ingredient in injera, a staple flatbread in Ethiopian cuisine. It is a plant native of Eritrea and Ethiopia. “Teff is high in protein, higher in iron than most other grains, and a fiber powerhouse packing 12 grams in just 3.5 ounces!” says Moore. This mild, slightly sweet pick is also rich in minerals such as copper, phosphorus, and magnesium, key for regular muscle and nerve function. Comments: Ms. Miller, the author, deserves credit for mentioning the plurality of millets in #7. Does this one example reflect a widening awareness of this fact? However, for such an article in the US to miss proso millet - which is what's generally marketed as "millet" in this part of the world - indicates incomplete information. Proso is of course grown in this region for its grains, unlike pearl and finger millet. Fonio from West Africa, particularly under the brand name Yolélé, seems to be more widely marketed here than pearl or finger millets, which can be found in markets specializing in Indian and South Asian foods. Interesting the mention of fonio under #7, since I've more often seen it mentioned separately from grains surnamed "millet," like what one sees in this article with sorghum and teff. During the International Year of Millets (2023) I had hoped to produce a kind of press packet that would disambiguate millets for journalists and bloggers not that familiar with these grains. Some items on the NAMA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) reflected this concern, and indeed have been split off into a separate FAQ in draft, that could be used in developing such a press packet. Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6
by Gary Wietgrefe 26 Mar '25

26 Mar '25

Thank you Don for investigating elusive millet production. Ancient crops, like millet, are not considered industrial crops, therefore I am extremely cautious quoting production numbers, especially by type of millet. At least two of your sources date to 1993 and would have used prior sources. No matter how many times those numbers are quoted, even decades later, I consider them highly suspect. For several reasons: 1.) *Unreported millet*: Mongols have lived on proso millet for thousands of years and still do. The Soviet Union production of millet in Mongolia from 1940-1990 was "Zero!" Though obviously not true, Soviet State Farms's production goals did not include millet, so it was left unreported. Mongolian proso varieties were compared to Russian and varieties of U.S. proso I sent to Mongolia for research in the late 1990s. See (PDF) Ancient Proso Millet and the Twentieth Century Survival of Mongolia <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358270886_Ancient_Proso_Millet_and…> . Another example is Canada which produces proso millet and sorghum, yet the UN's FAO reports NO millet or sorghum produced in Canada. See FAOSTAT <https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL> ( https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL) Those are crops not reported by Statistics Canada, and I suspect therefore are not reported by the UN. 2.) *Mixed data*: Production data collected on millets sometimes include sorghum, consequently it is not reliable. See UN's FAO data. FAOSTAT <https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL> ( https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL) Note that since the 1960s (FAO's reporting period) Canada and Mongolia are not even listed as a millet producers. 3.) *Under reporting*: By far most acreage of millets produced in the U.S. is not reported by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Millet grain production volume since the late 1990s only lists one millet produced for grain, proso, and only reports 481,000 acres of proso production for 2024 in three states (Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota). However, another branch of USDA (Farm Service Agency) reports over forty states (971,443 total acreage) planting proso, foxtail, pearl, Japanese, teff and "common.". Keep in mind, only farms that seek government program payments report to FAS which generally includes millets planted for forage, cover crops, game farms, and wildlife uses. See FAS kmWMJUc631qPEbuuKeWH | Farm Service Agency <https://www.fsa.usda.gov/documents/kmwmjuc631qpebuukewh>, compared to NASS page 32 in cropan25.pdf <https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/k3569432s/nk324…> ( https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/k3569432s/nk324… ). 3.) *Uses*: UN's FAO is mainly concerned about "Food" production, hense their name (Food & Agricultural Organization). FAO is likely the most common source of worldwide and individual country data. Consequently, millet uses for livestock fodder, grazing, erosion control, and wildlife habitat is not reported by the UN. Without countries reporting actual millet acres, including the U.S., my advice is do not rely on publicly reported millet statistics when estimating millet's actual annual production.....Gary Wietgrefe On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 5:01 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. Quantifying global production of grain millets by crop > (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2025 21:25:04 -0500 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: "collab(a)lists.millets2023.space" <collab(a)lists.millets2023.space> > Subject: [Collab] Quantifying global production of grain millets by > crop > Message-ID: > < > CA+RHibW7bXbFWtT99813uqLUei7XiaCsRUQPtJgfZ+nbwUgbgQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > 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." > > Pexov? Kalinov? J, T??ska J, Ho?ej?? 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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Re: [Collab] Collab Digest, Vol 38, Issue 9
by Gary Wietgrefe 25 Mar '25

25 Mar '25

Don, excellent start at capturing the value and diverse uses of millet oils. *Proso oil is high quality*. A composition analysis of 19 grains is in the attached chart. Unfortunately, the type of millet is not identified, but is likely whole grain proso. Grain-Nutrition-Comparison-Matrix.pdf <https://www.einkorn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Grain-Nutrition-Comparis…>. Volume of seed oil is important, but also the type of oil affecting human metabolic functions. Soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, wheat germ, and grape oils contain over 50% linoleic acid. Polyunsaturated_fats_in_plant_oils.png (1080×1080) <https://images.ctfassets.net/stnv4edzz8v3/25E1IVeShv9HOcse0Luc5p/dbe6b2165d…>. Researchers agree proso millet oil and starch components vary significantly in linoleic vs oleic acids with wide variance in varieties allowing for breeding selections based on market needs. Full article: Chemical composition, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of nine Chinese proso millet varieties <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540105.2018.1428283#d1e2712> *Corn vs millet oil*: Over 40% of U.S. corn is converted to ethanol with corn oil extracted adding value and marketability of distillers grains by increasing protein, better digestibility of ruminants, and increases value by marketing corn oil separately in swine and poultry diets and biodiesel. Proso grain converted to ethanol in those ethanol plants would likely extract similar quantities of proso oil as corn with significant quality differences in acid profiles. Distillers Corn Oil Recovery White Paper.pdf <https://biosolutions.novozymes.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/Distill…> *Dehulled proso for food changes characteristics of component*s, including oil with proso hulls having 1.4% ether extract (crude fat). See page 142 in my 1990 book (PDF) How to Produce Proso Millet: A Farmer's Guide <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284179184_How_to_Produce_Proso_Mil…'s_Guide> and Study on metabolic variation in whole grains of four proso millet varieties reveals metabolites important for antioxidant properties and quality traits - ScienceDirect <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814621007974> *Quality and characteristics of nine millets* indicate each oil has different health and nutritional benefits. For a good comparison see Antiproliferative potential and DNA scission inhibitory activity of phenolics from whole millet grains - ScienceDirect <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175646461100034X> With *over 400,000 acres of proso harvested in the U.S. for grain each year*, different industries from foods to health (e.g. supplements) will find beneficial uses of proso components.....Gary Wietgrefe On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 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. Millet oils (Don Osborn) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:07:48 -0400 > From: Don Osborn <don(a)milletsalliance.org> > To: collab(a)lists.millets2023.space > Subject: [Collab] Millet oils > Message-ID: > <CA+RHibWafpCK9ONruu1= > SBKjh+6TgX4Hm07hftK9xaZLV8XeCQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > The topic of millet oils came up in a discussion a few weeks ago. Following > that, Gary put together a list of links. I've built on those, including one > from Joanna Kane-Potaka in a discussion here in 2023, plus others from > online. This list has been reorganized, and I dug out full text links to > the oldest articles (1920 & 1933). Some of these are quite technical. > > All that said, there is a lot more out there. Millet oils, particularly > from proso, are not a new thing - after all, oils have been extracted from > seeds of various plants since over a century. Millet oils would be edible, > of course, but some are used in health and cosmetic applications. > > List follows (please add others if you have any): > > PRODUCTS (random; appear to all be proso oil) > > Panicum miliaceum seed oil, by INCI Beauty (France), > https://incibeauty.com/en/ingredients/8588-panicum-miliaceum-seed-oil > > Gold millet oil, by Zwicky (Switzerland), > https://www.zwicky.swiss/en/diet/food-supplement/gold-millet-oil > > Millet Oil, by Agrofirma Pole LLC (Ukraine), > https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/millet-oil-prod1280607.html > > Millet seed oil, by W. Ulrich (Germany), > https://ulrichgmbh.de/en/produkte/further-products/millet-seed-oil/ > > Keranat? (Millet Seed Oil), by Robertet (France), > https://www.ingredientsonline.com/botanicals/keranatr-millet-seed-oil/ > > > OVERVIEW (focus on sorghum & pearl millet, but situates discussion among > other millets) > > Rooney, L.W., 1978, "Sorghum and Pearl Millet Lipids," Cereal Chemistry, > 55(5): 584-590 > > https://www.cerealsgrains.org/publications/cc/backissues/1978/documents/che… > > > PROSO > > Smith, Winifred E., and Edith K. Waller, 1933, "The Characteristics of > Millet Oil," The Analyst, Vol. 56, No. 687, pp. 319-324 > http://lib3.dss.go.th/fulltext/scan_ebook/analyst_1933_v58_no687.pdf > > Dunbar, B.A., and E.R. Binnewies, 1920, "Proso Millet Inestigations - > Analysis of the Oil - A Characteristic Alcohol," Journal of the American > Chemical Society, 43(3): 658-666 > https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.523763/page/658/mode/2up > > An, Yeon Ju, et al. "Determination of Miliacin from Proso Millet Oil by > GC/MS." Korean Journal of Crop Science, vol. 67, no. 4, ??????, Dec. 2022, > pp. 335?341, doi:10.7740/KJCS.2022.67.4.335. > https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO202213759685851.page > > Lee E, Seo HD, Kim D, Park SH, Kim SR, Hyun C, Hahm JH, Ha TY, Ahn J, Jung > CH. Millet seed oil activates ?-catenin signaling and promotes hair growth. > Front Pharmacol. 2023 May 9;14:1172084. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1172084. > PMID: 37229245; PMCID: PMC10203242. > > > FOXTAIL > > Liang, S., Yang, G. & Ma, Y. "Chemical Characteristics and Fatty Acid > Profile of Foxtail Millet Bran Oil." Journal of the American Oil Chemists' > Society 87, 63?67 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-009-1475-3 & > > https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225660807_Chemical_Characteristics… > > Pang M, He SJ, Cao LL, Jiang ST. "Optimization and evaluation of foxtail > millet (Setaria italica) bran oil by supercritical carbon dioxide > extraction." Grasas aceites [Internet]. 2015 Dec. 30 [cited > 2025Mar.24];66(4):e107. Available from: > > https://grasasyaceites.revistas.csic.es/index.php/grasasyaceites/article/vi… > > > PEARL > > Slama, A., Cherif, A., Sakouhi, F. et al. Fatty acids, phytochemical > composition and antioxidant potential of pearl millet oil. Journal of > Consumer Protection and Food Safety 15, 145?151 (2020). > https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01250-4 > > -- > > Don Osborn, PhD > (East Lansing, MI, US) > North American Millets Alliance >

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Millet oils
by Don Osborn 24 Mar '25

24 Mar '25

The topic of millet oils came up in a discussion a few weeks ago. Following that, Gary put together a list of links. I've built on those, including one from Joanna Kane-Potaka in a discussion here in 2023, plus others from online. This list has been reorganized, and I dug out full text links to the oldest articles (1920 & 1933). Some of these are quite technical. All that said, there is a lot more out there. Millet oils, particularly from proso, are not a new thing - after all, oils have been extracted from seeds of various plants since over a century. Millet oils would be edible, of course, but some are used in health and cosmetic applications. List follows (please add others if you have any): PRODUCTS (random; appear to all be proso oil) Panicum miliaceum seed oil, by INCI Beauty (France), https://incibeauty.com/en/ingredients/8588-panicum-miliaceum-seed-oil Gold millet oil, by Zwicky (Switzerland), https://www.zwicky.swiss/en/diet/food-supplement/gold-millet-oil Millet Oil, by Agrofirma Pole LLC (Ukraine), https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/millet-oil-prod1280607.html Millet seed oil, by W. Ulrich (Germany), https://ulrichgmbh.de/en/produkte/further-products/millet-seed-oil/ Keranat® (Millet Seed Oil), by Robertet (France), https://www.ingredientsonline.com/botanicals/keranatr-millet-seed-oil/ OVERVIEW (focus on sorghum & pearl millet, but situates discussion among other millets) Rooney, L.W., 1978, "Sorghum and Pearl Millet Lipids," Cereal Chemistry, 55(5): 584-590 https://www.cerealsgrains.org/publications/cc/backissues/1978/documents/che… PROSO Smith, Winifred E., and Edith K. Waller, 1933, "The Characteristics of Millet Oil," The Analyst, Vol. 56, No. 687, pp. 319-324 http://lib3.dss.go.th/fulltext/scan_ebook/analyst_1933_v58_no687.pdf Dunbar, B.A., and E.R. Binnewies, 1920, "Proso Millet Inestigations - Analysis of the Oil - A Characteristic Alcohol," Journal of the American Chemical Society, 43(3): 658-666 https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.523763/page/658/mode/2up An, Yeon Ju, et al. "Determination of Miliacin from Proso Millet Oil by GC/MS." Korean Journal of Crop Science, vol. 67, no. 4, 한국작물학회, Dec. 2022, pp. 335–341, doi:10.7740/KJCS.2022.67.4.335. https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO202213759685851.page Lee E, Seo HD, Kim D, Park SH, Kim SR, Hyun C, Hahm JH, Ha TY, Ahn J, Jung CH. Millet seed oil activates β-catenin signaling and promotes hair growth. Front Pharmacol. 2023 May 9;14:1172084. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1172084. PMID: 37229245; PMCID: PMC10203242. FOXTAIL Liang, S., Yang, G. & Ma, Y. "Chemical Characteristics and Fatty Acid Profile of Foxtail Millet Bran Oil." Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 87, 63–67 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-009-1475-3 & https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225660807_Chemical_Characteristics… Pang M, He SJ, Cao LL, Jiang ST. "Optimization and evaluation of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) bran oil by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction." Grasas aceites [Internet]. 2015 Dec. 30 [cited 2025Mar.24];66(4):e107. Available from: https://grasasyaceites.revistas.csic.es/index.php/grasasyaceites/article/vi… PEARL Slama, A., Cherif, A., Sakouhi, F. et al. Fatty acids, phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of pearl millet oil. Journal of Consumer Protection and Food Safety 15, 145–151 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-019-01250-4 -- Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Foxtail millet in Uganda (& Kenya)
by Don Osborn 23 Mar '25

23 Mar '25

During the Millets Webinar this past Thursday, Zachary Louk mentioned a connection he had had with Malawi and Zambia, which resulted in some foxtail millet being tried in these countries. This reminded me of a longer term and more concerted effort to develop foxtail millet as a crop in Uganda. Some article and webpage titles and links, along with brief comments, are below. First, for those not familiar, foxtail millet (Setaria italica) was domesticated millenia ago in what is now China, and its cultivation spread west across Eurasia and south to South Asia in ancient times. It hasn't been grown as a crop until recently (apart possibly in North Africa?). Interesting that pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet spread east out of Africa as far as China and beyond, but foxtail and proso millets only recently completed their journey to Africa (altho there was record of some proso cultivation for a period in the past in Sudan). Articles & webpages (text after * are my comments). Foxtail, aka "Chinese millet," seems to have been introduced by Ugandan initiative in 2010, and then incorporated into a larger effort with China and FAO. "Chinese millet storms Uganda," by Christopher Bendana, Africa-China Reporting Project, 25 January 2018 (originally published in the Ugandan paper, New Vision, in 2017) https://africachinareporting.com/chinese-millet-storms-uganda/ * Article discusses the introduction of foxtail by a former Ugandan agricultural minister in 2010, and subsequent work to evaluate it and make it available to farmers Also mentioned are local reception and possible impact on traditionally cultivated millets. The latter comparisons, however, seem to be between improved varieties of foxtail, and landrace varieties of traditional millets (more info would be helpful) Two articles in 2013, both behind paywalls, discussed the early stages of introducing foxtail in Uganda: - "Introducing foxtail millet in Uganda," Monitor, 16 July 2013 https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/farming/introducing-foxtail-mill… - "Food Security - Uganda Looks to Chinese Millet," The Observer (Kampala) via AllAfrica.com, 21 July 2013 https://allafrica.com/stories/201307220777.html "FAO-China South-South Cooperation Project in Uganda Foxtail and Proso millet production to improve food and nutrition security," (No date; originally accessed in 2023), Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) (United Nations / Multilateral body) https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/fao-china-south-south-cooperation-project-… * General description of the FAO-SSC Project in Uganda An FAO digital media page on the SSC project, dated 10.29.24: https://digital-media.fao.org/archive/UGANDA-2024--FAO-China-Uganda-South-S… Post by MAAIF Uganda (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries at Government of Uganda) on LinkedIn, apparently in mid-2024,: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/maaif-uganda_sscuganda-activity-720910130778… * Recapitulates some of the FAO SSC info discussed in above links "Uganda boosts food security through South-South cooperation with China, FAO," Xinhua (News.cn), 2024-10-16 https://english.news.cn/20241016/84b8bd0be73d4279873d5315f8b95a4b/c.html * This gives updates on the FAO SSC, now evidently in its third phase. Mentions high-yielding varieties of foxtail millet and hybrid rice. This effort seems to be spreading, as another article on Kenya indicates: "Early maturing, high yielding and climate-smart Chinese millet enters Kenya," Farmers Review Africa, 11 Aug. 2023 https://farmersreviewafrica.com/early-maturing-high-yielding-and-climate-sm… This is actually history in the making. One might compare the spread of teff in the US in the last 40 years or so - primarily as a forage and hay crop, but also for food. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US - +1 202-621-3911) North American Millets Alliance

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Save the date: Webinar on foxtail millet & cover crops, 3/20/25
by Don Osborn 21 Mar '25

21 Mar '25

Our next Millets Webinar (on Zoom) will focus on foxtail millet and cover crops. It will feature Dr. Allen WIlliams of Understanding Ag and Mr. Zachary Louk of Green Cover. Date: Thursday 20 March 2025. Time: 11 am EDT / 8 am PDT. Foxtail millet is the second or third most cultivated millet in the world (depending on whether you count sorghum). An important food crop in parts of Asia and historically in parts of Europe, it has tended to be used for forage and as a cover crop in North America. It was once called "common millet" in this region. This webinar will consider foxtail, cover crops, and the intersection of the two. Lots of interesting questions about the benefits of this millet and its future. Zoom instructions below. Hoe to see you there! Don Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance Topic: NAMA Monthly Webinar Session Time: This is a recurring meeting . Next one, Thursday 20 March 2025 at11 am EDT / 8 am PDT Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86716347793?pwd=Fbp5YT9KNYKcum7obg94cExifEXrDE.1 Meeting ID: 867 1634 7793 Passcode: 340314 --- One tap mobile +19292056099,,86716347793#,,,,*340314# US (New York) +13017158592,,86716347793#,,,,*340314# US (Washington DC) --- Dial by your location • +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) • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 867 1634 7793 Passcode: 340314 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/keg1tuTYWl

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Cancellation of the Purdue GSA Global Millets Expo
by Don Osborn 18 Mar '25

18 Mar '25

We have heard from the Purdue University organizer / host of the GSA Global Millets Expo that the event, which had been scheduled for 11-12 April 2025, has been cancelled due to logistical issues in this "unprecedented time for universities." We are saddened by this cancellation, but look forward to other opportunities to collaborate with Purdue Department of Food Science and the GSA. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance

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Invitation from Purdue U. to GSA Millets Expo
by Don Osborn 12 Mar '25

12 Mar '25

It is my pleasure to pass on a letter of invitation to the GSA Millets Expo (11-12 April 2025, West Lafayette, IN) from Prof. Senay Simsek, chair of the Department of Food Science at Purdue University. This and a flyer about the conference are attached. I also reproduce the text of Prof. Simsek's letter below. The webpage for the event is: https://ag.purdue.edu/events/department/foodsci/2025/04/gsa-global-millets-… The registration page for the event is: https://web.cvent.com/event/3be6ea1e-4022-4f42-87fe-f7b4823183cc/regPage:55… At least one member of NAMA is planning to attend what promises to be an important event for networking and information sharing about millets. Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance (Text of Prof. Simsek's letter follows) "On behalf of the Purdue University's Department of Food Science, it is our great pleasure to invite you to the first GSA Global Millets Expo which will be held at Purdue University on April 11-12, 2025. We are looking forward to your attendance to present or showcase your products! "Throughout the two-day expo, you will have the opportunity to engage with keynote speakers who will share insights into the advantages of using millet in global food systems as well as the use of millet as a functional ingredient. The expo will feature an exhibition wheremany can showcase their products and share important information about millet's applications in food and agriculture. This event is designed to foster collaboration and promote millet as a key player in building resilient and sustainable food systems worldwide. "We truly look forward to welcoming you to Purdue University for this new event. We will discuss the role millet will play in the coming decades in our food chain and economies. "Thank you so much for your interest in the GSA Global Millets Expo. We are excited to have you join us here at Purdue University in spring 2025! "Sincerely, Senay Simsek, Ph.D. Professor and Head Dean's Chair in Food Science"

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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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