FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE by North American Millets Alliance: January 12, 2026 *Two Food Millets Announced for 2026* Enough food-selected seed varieties of proso millet are available for planting in 2026. In the past, food characteristics, empirical analysis, and varietal selection of proso biotypes have limited significant volume of millets in the U.S. food chain. “Having designated food-grade millet varieties is exciting news for millets and the food chain,” said Joni Kindwall-Moore, CEO of Snacktivist Inc. and founding member of the North American Millets Alliance. Don Osborn co-founder of the North American Millets Alliance went on to explain, “Industry changes come in steps. The first was North American Millets Alliance’s release of proso millet grading standards in 2025 in order to properly segregate food grade millets from farm to prepared foods.” University and private plant breeding have developed two different food quality proso millet varieties. One is an amylose-free starch or “waxy” proso, named Plateau, developed by the University of Nebraska—Scottsbluff. A nearby seed producer and proso processor, Kriesel Certified Seed, Gurley, Nebraska has completed expansion to hull Plateau for the food industry. Dryland Genetics, a proso-focused plant breeding company, released their first food-designated millet in 2024 named DLG317. Large quantities of identity preserved DLG317 are available for 2026. Besides its unique aroma and yellow colored endosperm, DLG317 has unique bioflavonoids—antioxidants known to be heart-healthy. “In an era of severe water shortages and growing population desiring healthy foods, proso has the lowest water-use efficiency of any grain crop,” stated Gary Wietgrefe, a senior millet agronomist and international millet researcher. “Plateau and DLG317 are the perfect food varieties to replace water-hungry rice, corn and wheat.” Contacts: Dryland Genetics https://www.drylandgenetics.com/; Kriesel Certified Seed: https://www.krieselcertifiedseed.com/; North American Millets Alliance: https://millets2023.space/ --- DO, EL, MI, US NAMA