Popularizing Millets: The Next Chapter in Global Grain Innovation
Eminent Speakers
Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS
Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha
Joanna Kane-Potaka
Assistant Director General at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT); Deputy Director General of Strategy, Engagement and Impact at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI); Founder and Executive Director of the Smart Food initiative
Agathe Diama
Senior Manager – Communication and Regional Information, Smart Food Coordinator, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Bamako, Mali
Dr Raj Kumar Bhandari
Member of National Technical Board of Nutrition and Health, NITI Aayog, Government of India
Dr C Tara Satyavathi
Director, ICAR-IIMR
Shauravi Malik
Co-Founder, Wholsum Foods
Session Moderator
Suchetana Choudhury
Deputy Executive Editor, Agrospectrum India & Asia; NUFFOODS Spectrum Asia
Once overlooked as “forgotten grains,” millets are now powering a global food revolution. These climate-smart, nutrient-rich supergrains are making a bold comeback—from kitchens to cabinets, farms to policy tables.
Millets are gaining global attention as climate-smart, nutrition-rich crops, but their true potential remains underutilized. This webinar explores the strategic next steps needed to popularize millets worldwide—through consumer awareness, culinary innovation, and policy alignment. Experts will discuss how to overcome barriers such as market unfamiliarity, fragmented supply chains, and limited global branding. With case studies from India, Africa, Australia, UK and beyond, the session will spotlight successful models and scalable approaches.
The initiative aims to bring together leading voices to foster cross-border collaboration, guide policy discussions, and shape future innovation in the millet ecosystem-
The goal is clear: To make millets a mainstream, modern grain of choice across geographies and generations.
What’s on the table:
Key Takeaways:
1. India perspective on the next steps required to popularize millets in India and for export → India’s future roadmap to scale up millet consumption at home and boost its presence in global markets.
2. UK perspective on the next steps required to popularize millets in the UK and Europe → The way forward for introducing and promoting millets among consumers in the UK and across Europe.
3. Africa perspective on the next steps required to popularize millets in Africa → Steps African countries can take to expand millet adoption and integrate it more widely into diets and farming systems.
4. Health perspective on millets that can be leveraged to popularize millets → The nutritional benefits of millets that can be used as a key driver for their wider acceptance and promotion.
5. Odisha’s case study how they popularized millets and plans for the future → A look at Odisha’s successful efforts to revive millets and its upcoming strategies to sustain and scale the initiative.
India’s Next Steps: Strengthen domestic millet consumption through awareness, innovation, and value chain development while enhancing export potential through quality standards and market access.
UK & Europe Outlook: Promote millets by aligning with sustainable food trends
Africa Outlook: Build on millet’s cultural roots by supporting local production, improving access to markets, and integrating millets into national nutrition and agriculture strategies.
Health as a Catalyst: Highlight millet’s proven health benefits—such as managing lifestyle diseases and supporting gut health—as a compelling reason for broader adoption globally
Odisha’s Model: Learn from Odisha’s comprehensive millet revival program, which combined farmer incentives, community outreach, and policy support, and is now gearing up for further scale and replication.
