Here, FYI, are citations, links and abstracts for four research and review articles about millets from the last couple of years. I came across these in a web search. The numbering here has no significance, and is intended only for convenience of reference: 1. "Millets: Journey from an Ancient Crop to Sustainable and Healthy Food" 2. "Millets: Ancient Grains for Modern Nutrition - A Comprehensive Review" 3. "The nutrition and therapeutic potential of millets: an updated narrative review." 4. "Millets and food security: a sustainable response to growing population needs."
=== 1. Mohanan, M.M.; Vijayakumar, A.; Bang-Berthelsen, C.H.; Mudnakudu-Nagaraju, K.K.; Shetty, R. "Millets: Journey from an Ancient Crop to Sustainable and Healthy Food." *Foods* *2025*, *14*, 1733. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101733 https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/10/1733 ABSTRACT "Millets, often known as 'nutri-cereals', have garnered renewed global interest due to their numerous health benefits, rich nutritional composition, resilience to extreme climatic conditions, and minimal environmental footprint. The advent of rice and wheat as staple foods in the 1960s led to drastic decline in millet cultivation worldwide. Recognizing the importance of millet, the United Nations (UN) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets in an effort to accomplish Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG-2), i.e., zero hunger, by increasing millet production and fostering research and development to improve the integration of these grains into mainstream food systems. In recent years, global production of millets has surged, with India leading as the top producer. Millets are nutritionally advantageous, consisting of carbohydrates, antioxidants, and biologically active compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, minerals, and vitamins. Incorporating millets into a balanced diet can help control and prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammation, and malnutrition due to their enriched vital nutrients, low glycemic index, and gluten-free nature. This indicates a transition of millets from an 'orphan crop' to being used as ingredients for products (with or without fermentation) that are nutrient-rich, climate-resilient, sustainable, and health-promoting." === 2. Kaur N, Ray B, Kalyani CV. "Millets: Ancient Grains for Modern Nutrition - A Comprehensive Review." Indian Journal of Community Medicine. 2024 Sep-Oct;49(5):665-668. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_765_23. Epub 2024 Jun 24. PMID: 39421505; PMCID: PMC11482393. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_765_23 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11482393/ ABSTRACT "Millets are a group of small, drought-resistant grains that have been grown for more than thousands of years. They are highly nutritious, rich in essential vitamins and minerals, and have gained attention in recent years due to their potential to address global food security and environmental challenges. This review article provides an overview of millets, their nutritional benefits, environmental advantages, and their role in promoting sustainable agriculture and processing of millets. The article also discusses the various types of millets, their cultivation, and their potential to improve human health and combat malnutrition." === 3. Jacob J, Krishnan V, Antony C, Bhavyasri M, Aruna C, Mishra K, Nepolean T, Satyavathi CT, Visarada KBRS. "The nutrition and therapeutic potential of millets: an updated narrative review." Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024 Apr 30;11:1346869. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1346869. PMID: 38746941; PMCID: PMC11091339. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1346869 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11091339/ ABSTRACT "Millets are ancient small grains grown in arid and semiarid regions of the world. They are staple food for many people in Asia and Africa. They are abundant sources of minerals and vitamins, giving them the name Nutricereals. Moreover, millets contain valuable phytochemicals that impart therapeutic properties for various disorders and diseases, thus giving them nutraceutical value. A wide array of biochemical compounds are present in the plant parts as well as the grains. In the oldest texts of medicine in India and China, millets are mentioned for use for their medicinal value. There has been expanding interest and emerging facts about millets and their therapeutic uses. Ample evidence shows that consumption of millets amounts to correction of life style and metabolic disorders. Therapeutic properties of millets can be viewed in two ways, supplementary nutrition through minerals and vitamins, and therapeutic value through the presence of phytochemicals and specialty compounds that include flavonoids, phenolics, anthocyanidins and others that have antioxidant potential. Millets are gluten free, have low glycemic index and the phytochemicals aid in correction of lifestyle disorders and prevention of ailments like carcinogenesis. Supplementary benefits include treatment of anemia and calcium deficiency especially for pregnant women and young children. With the improvements in analytical methods for detection of various compounds, it is possible to identify the compound-specific genotypes in millets that can cater to the pharmacy industry. End-use specific genotypes can be bred to meet the demand. Millets being climate resilient, can contribute to a healthier life and better world through economic usage of natural resources. " === 4. Borah T, Deka S and Sharma D (2026) "Millets and food security: a sustainable response to growing population needs." Frontiers in Plant Science. 17:1796931. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1796931 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1796931/full ABSTRACT "The increasing lack and limitations of key cereals such as rice and wheat, aggravated by climate change, growing population, and declining agricultural sustainability, pose significant threats to global food and nutrition security. In this review, millets—often termed as “nutri-cereals”—appear as a viable alternative due to their resilience to adverse agro-climatic conditions, higher nutritional profile, and diverse health-promoting properties. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the potential of millets in enhancing food and nutritional security, focusing on their nutritional and antinutritional composition, processing methods, health benefits, and patterns of global and Indian production. In vivo and in-vitro evidence suggests that millet consumption helps in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and certain cancers. Although enriched with essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, millets contain antinutritional factors that can be reduced through traditional and modern processing techniques. Despite these benefits, challenges to consumer acceptance persist, driven by cultural preferences, sensory limitations, and limited market penetration. Policy initiatives in India and globally reflect the increasing recognition of millets as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, livelihood security, and women’s empowerment. The integration of millets into mainstream diets, supported by processing technologies, public procurement, and awareness strategies, offers a sustainable solution to malnutrition while advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals." === Don Osborn, PhD (East Lansing, MI, US) North American Millets Alliance -- Collab mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
