Millet may help to feed the growing population of the planet. The protein-rich cereal is unpretentious and claims to be the ideal crop for a changeable climate.
Millet ranks among the great cereals of antiquity, along with buckwheat and quinoa. Nevertheless, in the West, millet has only one association for many: bird food. Indeed, in the US and Europe, it is mainly used for animal feed. But in some regions of China, India and Africa - and not only there - a protein-rich crop that does not require a lot of water to grow is an important food.
This nutty-flavored cereal can help feed the world's growing population. “Millet crops can withstand drought and extreme heat, making it an ideal crop for a changing climate,” says Indian agronomist Hari Upadyaya. Among other things, this cereal grows quickly and is resistant to pests.
According to Tim Larsen, spokesman for the Colorado Millet Cultivator Association, this tiny bundle of energy lacks only advertising. “I feel like his time has come,” says Larsen. Despite all the difficulties of introducing new products in the United States, millet can be helped by another popular property: the cereal does not contain gluten.