Thank you, Joanna. I was not aware of it, but appreciate your bringing it to our attention, and am glad that the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is undertaking this project.

A couple of quick related items before brief comments on the SDSN webinar series as described in your email and on the page you linked to:

* Our (NAMA and University of Missouri) next webinar will be next Wednesday, 5/17 5 pm EDT; 2 PDT), on millets processing - basically what happens between harvest and food. It will feature presentations from Bay State Milling and Simple Kneads. More details forthcoming!

* With the number of webinars being produced on millets and IYM2023, I'm wondering about a meta-directory of presenters and presentations, and beyond that, about the potential for reusing this diverse material in some way (with permissions of course) - perhaps in documenting the IYM. Just another "thinking ahead" topic...

SDSN's webinar series looks very interesting. It seems like they are varying the hours, perhaps to accommodate presenters and/or gather diverse audiences?

I'm hoping they can edit the titles of the webinars, and descriptions of their content, to use "millets" in plural, in order to be in sync with messaging on IYM, and indeed on their own page, which also discusses "millets" in introducing the series topic. After all, these are different species of crops - not just different varieties - and grains with their own nutritional and flavor profiles.

All the best,

Don

DO, EL, MI, US

NAMA

Bcc: UN SDSN (info)

On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 1:04 AM Joanna Kane-Potaka <joanna.kanepotaka@outlook.com> wrote:

Dear All

Have you see this other millet webinar series from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) - see below or here https://www.unsdsn.org/sdsn-commemorates-international-year-of-millets

SDSN Commemorates International Year of Millets

The United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) and named the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. The objective of IYM 2023 is to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to, the socio-cultural, nutritional, and environmental benefits of millet cultivation. The Year will also promote their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

www.unsdsn.org

Regards

Joanna

Webinar Series

Webinar 1: History of Millet
June 9, 2023 | 5 am EDT | 11 am CEST | 2:30 pm IST | Register

This webinar will describe the different varieties of millet and how they were domesticated over millennia, where they are grown, as well as provide a general overview of how different cultures use them in cuisine. Featured speakers include:

Paul Newnham, Director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub Secretariat and Coordinator of the Chef’s Manifesto
Chef Manisha Bhasin, Corporate Executive Chef at ITC Hotels
Chubbamenla Jamir, Co-Lead for Mountain Agriculture thematic Working Group of the Himalayan Universities Consortium
Webinar 2: Sustainability of Millet
July 7, 2023 | 10 am PST | 1 pm EST | 8 pm EAT | Register

This webinar will review the sustainability aspects of growing millet, including the reduced need for inputs (e.g., water, fertilizer, pesticides), as well as its resilience to climate change. Featured speakers include:

Chef Pierre Thiam, Executive Chef of Nok by Alara (Lagos, Nigeria); Signature Chef of the Pullman Hotel (Dakar, Senegal); Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Teranga (New York City, USA)
Dr . Rebbie Harawa, Country Representative for Kenya and Regional Director for Eastern & Southern Africa, ICRISAT
Lauren Barredo, Chief of Staff, SDSN
Webinar 3: Nutritional Benefits of Millet
Date TBD

This webinar will review the nutritional content of millet and the role it can play in achieving SDG2, particularly in arid settings where food scarcity is a challenge and climate change is a threat.

Youth Photography Contest

Beginning June 1 and running through August 31, 2023, we invite youth to submit photos of millet. Submissions will be received on Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtags #IYM2023 and #MyMillet, and tagging @UNSDSN. Each submission must include a caption with (at minimum) the location (e.g., Bangalore, India) and the name of the millet (e.g., finger millet). The contest will be open to youth, ages 16 to 30, from anywhere in the world. Each individual can submit no more than three photos for consideration.

There will be two prizes. One photo selected by the committee will be featured on the cover of SDSN’s millet cookbook. A second 'People’s Choice Award' will go to the photo with the most likes. Winners will be announced via Twitter and Instagram in September 2023. The selection committee will be comprised of Chubamenla Jamir (Mountain Agriculture Center, India), Lauren Barredo (SDSN, USA), Brighton Kaoma (SDSN Youth, Zambia), Grady Walker (University of Reading, UK), and Inbal Abergil (Pace University, USA). Photos will be judged based on storytelling, creativity, and composition.

Warm regards,
SDSN