The 2023 Millets Webinar Series

NAMA, and the FEAST Lab and Center for Regenerative Agriculture of the of Univ. of Missouri

During the International Year of Millets, 2023, the North American Millets Alliance (NAMA) organized a series of twelve monthly "Millets Webinars" in collaboration with, and with the support of, two units at the University of Missouri (MU): the Food Engineering and Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) Lab, which is headed by Dr. Kiruba Krishnaswamy; and the Center for Regenerative Agriculture (CRA), which is headed by Dr. Rob Myers. The FEAST Lab hosted these, and had several student helpers, including Sophia Sapp (for the whole year), Bethany W. Bedeker, and Mercy Nani. Dr. Jonathon Landeck and Joni Kindwall-Moore, co-founders of NAMA, took turns moderating/emceeing the Webinars.

The idea for webinars on millets was developed in 2022, with a couple of changes in the calendar made during the course of 2023. The flow of episodes is as follows:


The Webinars were held on Zoom, and recordings were then posted to YouTube. For a simple list, see the CRA’s webpage, or the FEAST Lab’s playlist.

A detailed list follows:

January 2023 - Introduction to Millets (1:01:46) https://youtu.be/1xKaoQoaj30 

Concept title: "A virtual tour of diverse millets from around the world for food systems and other benefits"

"An introduction to millets from around the world," presented by Dr. Rob Myers, Director of CRA, University of Missouri, and Regional Dir. of Extension Programs for the USDA NCR-SARE, and by David Brenner, Plant Germplasm Curator, USDA, Iowa State University. Their tandem set of presentations set the stage for the series.

February 2023 - Millets as Ancient Grains (1:00:24) https://youtu.be/nm8Yox9i2Jo 

Concept title: "Really Ancient Grains: Millets from the dawn of agriculture"

"Is Millet the Most Ancient Crop Domesticated by Humans?" Dr. Abed Chaudhury, Head of Scientific Innovation, LoamBio & Co-founder, Genofax; Founder, Krishan Farmers Group. Dr. Chaudhury's presentation explored aspects of the pre-history and early history of millets.

March 2023 - Modern History of Millets (58:12) https://youtu.be/IUeLldImLzE 

Concept title: "Modern history of millets: Trends in agriculture and food preferences"

"China as an example of how millets are faring in the contemporary global farming system," Prof. Francesca Bray, Dept. of Social Anthropology (emerita), University of Edinburgh. Prof. Bray’s distinguished career as a historian and anthropologist of science, technology, and medicine began with work on the history of agriculture in China

"Biogeography, domestication, and cultivation of millets with a focus on pearl millet (examples from Africa)," Dr. Laurajean Lewis, Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research. Dr. Lewis is a former professor and director of the Food Systems Program, Washington State Univ.

"Proso millet in the U.S.," Prof. David Baltensperger, Head of Crop & Soil Sciences, Texas A&M University. Prof. Baltensperger has been recognized for his work managing major university research programs in agriculture and crop science, including direction of a proso millet variety improvement program.

April 2023 - Millets: Ideal Crops for Climate Change (59:53) https://youtu.be/qqdO__eUmtg 

Concept title: "Are millets the ideal crops for Anthropocene conditions?"

"Millet Characterization for Iowa Growing Conditions," Juan Di Salvo, Graduate Student, Plant Breeding, Iowa State University. He presented ongoing research at ISU.

"The Sorghum Advantage: Adapting to Heat and Drought," Dr. Daniel Packer, Research Associate at Washington State University. Dr. Packer discussed many features and adaptations of sorghum as a crop.

May 2023 - Processing Millets (1:01:55) https://youtu.be/ZOcCy9IqQmU 

Concept title: "Processing millets: From the field to the kitchen"

"Millet from Field to Plate," a presentation by Bay State Milling Co., led by Garen Nightengale. This gave insights into the processing of proso millet from a raw agricultural product to a whole-grain ingredient.

"Millets: the Underrated Super Food," Tristaun LeClaire, Simple Kneads. He discussed Millets’ vital role in the gluten-free industry, their functionality in foods, and challenges with the under-researched millets supply chain, with examples from his own work.

June 2023 - Millets as Tasty Grains (58:02) https://youtu.be/c7pyH6ucN2U 

Concept title: "Tasty grains: What millets bring to the table"

"Food works as medicine," Chef Nazim Khan, award-winning professional executive chef at Bryan Health, Lincoln, NE. Chef Nazim’s presentation centered around uses of sorghum in various dishes, including plant-based protein options.

"Integrating millets into our food system: The case of fonio," Chef Pierre Thiam, award-winning cookbook author, restauranteur, and entrepreneur. Chef Pierre gave background on fonio, and discussed its "journey," including various ways it can be used.

July 2023 - Millets as Nutrition Powerhouses (1:04:30) https://youtu.be/RBOWRRLLyeo 

Concept title: "Millets as nutrition powerhouses"

"Sorghum: The Resource Conserving IngredientTM," Lanier Dabruzzi, Director of Food Innovations & Institutional Markets, United Sorghum Checkoff Program. Ms. Dabruzzi presented data and information on the nutritional benefits of sorghum.

"Millets as Nutrition Powerhouses," Kelly LeBlanc, Vice President of Nutrition Programming, Oldways Preservation Trust & Whole Grains Council. Ms. LeBlanc discussed nutritional qualities of millets more broadly.

August 2023 - Millet Products in Markets Today (58:30) https://youtu.be/f1VshT9tdZ0 

Concept title: "On and off the shelf: Millet products in markets today"

"On & off the shelf: Millet products in markets today," Caroline Sluyter, Program Director of the Oldways Whole Grains Council. Ms. Sluyter discussed products made with millets, and the growth in numbers of these over the last decade. She drew on the Whole Grain Stamped Product Database, a unique resource of product information.

"Millet products trending in India," Tapas Chandra Roy, Certified Farm Advisor for Millets at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (India), author, and longtime expert advocate for millets. Mr. Roy gave insights into the variety of products made with millets in India - the largest producer of these grains globally.

September 2023 – Millets in Beverages (57:12) https://youtu.be/RgkSnqIeHAU 

Concept title: "Drink up! Millet beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic"

"Millets' role in next gen plant-based food and beverage innovation," Sujala Balaji, engineer, scientist, entrepreneur, & founder/CEO of Rainfed Foods. One of Rainfed Foods' products is millet-based milk.

"Exploring millet as a craft brewing ingredient," Twila Soles, CEO and maltstress at Grouse Malt House, which she founded. One of the grains they use is proso millet.

October 2023 - Millets in Community & Economic Development (1:01:38) https://youtu.be/Wo9iojIfUts

Concept title: "More than small change: Millets in community and economic development"

"Millets: A small grain to confront big challenges," Dr. Amrita Hazra, Assoc. prof. of chemistry and biology at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India. Dr. Hazra was a co-founder of the University of California-Berkeley based Millet Project, a ground-breaking initiative to promote millets with local producers and processors in northern California, and about which we learn more in her presentation.

"The Role of Sorghum and Millets in Reshaping Global Food and Agriculture Paradigms," Nate Blum, CEO of Sorghum United and former director of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board. Mr. Blum has worked with communities of growers and researchers in several contexts. He has also launched a comic book series promoting sorghum called "Sorgho Squad."

November 2023 - Millets & Animal Farming (58:12) https://youtu.be/yCQ5shFxAB8 

Concept title: "Not just for the birds: Millets and animal farming"

"Millets used for cover crops, songbirds, and waterfowl," Dr. Rob Myers, Director of CRA, University of Missouri, and adjunct faculty in Plant Science and Technology Division, also at MU. Dr. Myers, who returned for a second presentation in the Millets Webinar series, has expertise in sustainable agriculture and crop diversification, including many years’ work with several millets.

"U.S. millet for forage, conservation, wildlife, and ornamental uses," Gary Wietgrefe, author and retired agronomist, based in South Dakota, US. He has a long career in which he has dealt with millets both domestically and internationally.

December 2023 - Innovations in Millets (1:02:06) https://youtu.be/IRirCLQ7kqw 

Concept title: "Innovations in millets: A food systems approach"

"Innovations in millets for sustainable food systems," Dr. Kiruba Krishnaswamy, Asst. Prof. at the University of Missouri, with dual appointment in Dept of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and the Division of Food, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences. Dr. Krishnaswamy heads the Food Engineering and Sustainable Technologies (FEAST) Lab there.

"Innovations in millets: A food systems approach," Joanna Kane-Potaka, Deputy Director General, Strategy, Engagement & Impact, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Ms. Kane-Potaka previously served for several years in the direction of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), which has millets among its mandate crops.


Return to NAMA home page.