LINCOLN, Neb. — An ancient grain may be critical to the future, feeding a growing world in extreme weather conditions. Now Nebraska leads the way, building bridges with India.
It may seem like an unusual alliance considering corn is king in the Cornhusker State.
But around the world
“We’re encouraging growth of crops that just don’t make a lot of sense,” said Nate Blum, CEO of Sorghum United.
Instead of growing corn, Blum says farmers in Asia and Africa should embrace sorghum and millets.
“So trying to reintroduce these crops that are highly nutritive, drought resistant crops to local food systems is very important,” he said.
Sorghum may be ideal for countries like India trying to feed a growing population under adverse climate conditions.
“A lot of places there is no irrigation, a dryland situation so sometimes people give up being frustrated because they cannot grow anything but this is an ancient crop, can grow 30-40 bushels in those conditions,” said Dr. Chittaranjan Ray, Director of the Nebraska Water Center.
“Maize and wheat have failed so the government has pushed back into those ancient grains that never really went away and trying to reintroduce them to the population,” Blum said.
Millets can be grown on arid land without all the inputs corn requires.
“It is going to be the crop that is required for future generations to address food security and nutrition security,” said Dr. Satyen Yadav, chairman of the India Millet Initiative.
Putting pen to paper, Nebraska and India formalize a relationship that could benefit both.
Blum said, “To come and visit Nebraska and create opportunity for student and faculty exchanges.”
“What Nebraska is doing is amazing activity and we plan to repeat it in India also,” said Yadav, pointing to work at the University of Nebraska on the guy biome among other things.
The partnership includes the nonprofit Sorghum United and Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska along with the India Millet Initiative.
“Focusing on malnutrition, hunger, economic and environmental sustainability through sorghum and millets, ancient grains through regional food systems,” Blum said.
“Adopt this crop, the mighty grains,” Yadav said.
Small but mighty grains that need more research and market development. Used in human food as also as livestock feed, scientists in India say it’s time to unleash the potential of these ancient crops.
“These are the crops that are going to help us to sustain so let’s adopt them, promote them,” Yadav said.
Blum said the new Indo-U.S. Millets Initiative builds on the United Nations “Year of the Millets” and provides opportunities for academic institutions, government, and the private sector.