7 Facts About Millets

Millets are known as “the first crops” and the crops of the future. Traditionally grown in Asia and Africa, they're powerhouses of nutrition, climate smart because they require minimal water, fertilizers or pesticides to grow, are insect-tolerant and drought-resistant. Not bad!

Globally, food systems produce more emissions than transportation. So any solution to climate change must directly address what we eat, and how it’s produced. 

Being endemic to regions that are dry and semi-arid, millets have developed an efficient fibrous root system that captures the moisture needed even from erratic rainfall, while also preventing soil erosion, and maintaining soil integrity.

A good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they’re good for cardiovascular health, bone health, preventing anemia, preventing the onset of diabetes (they’re low on the glycemic index), maintaining weight and stopping gut inflammation. Whew!

Despite being part of diets across the world for centuries, millets gave up center stage to rice and wheat. But with 90 million people worldwide still relying on millets, and the UN declaring 2023 International Year of Millets, this groovy grain's on the comeback train!