2023: FAO’s International Year of Millets.
The United Nations General Assembly in 2021, declared 2023 as the international year of Milletts. Millets (includes Pearl, Proso, Foxtail, Barnyay, Browntop, finger and Guinea Millets, and Teff) encompass a diverse group of small, grained dryland cereals, packed full of nutrients. Primarily grown in Asia and Africa, they can also be found in India, Nigeria, and China. They were the first plants to be domesticated and serve as a stable crop for many. They can survive in harsh growing conditions, so their adaptability and climate resilience offer opportunities to strengthen the food security and support economic growth globally. To celebrate the Millets, FAO are highlighting reasons why they deserve a place on our tables.
As they are wholegrains, they are very nutrient rich; high in antioxidants, minerals and proteins, alongside fibre. Millets are grain-free with a low glycaemic index; suitable for those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or diabetes. The grain can support feeding the ever-growing global population as they can survive in harsh climates such as drought and are resistance to pests, and can be harvested in the dry seasons, supporting those populations vulnerable to food insecurity. Millets need minimal input and maintenance when growing, allowing them to be suitable to poor, degraded soils that may be in difficult locations, and growing them supports biodiversity. Alongside this, growing these grains can support the demand for millets, creating additional opportunities for small-scale farmers. As it stands, they account for less than 3% of the global grains trade, which is dominated by four crops that make up 50% of the crop production: sugarcane, maize, wheat, and rice. Millets can be used in innovative ways, including in therapeutics and pharmaceutical industries, increasing greater market opportunities for regional and international trade. This year aims to raise awareness of and encourage direct policy attention to the wide variety of benefits of Millets. Find out more at FAO.Org/ Millets-2023.
The People’s plan for nature
Recently the People’s Plan for Nature Report was released. This report was created in collaboration with thousands of people across the UK. The plan sets out their vision for the future of nature and actions that we all need to take. The plan was split into two phrases; the first phrase was a national conversation; an open call to the public on their hopes for nature and examples they’ve seen that protects and restores nature. The second phase, created the UK’s first nationwide citizen’s assembly on nature, made up of 100 individuals from varied backgrounds. The plan is based on a review of a wide range of evidence to create a voice of the UK public, calling for action. We need nature to be considered in all decisions, and for a uk-wide and regional targets to increase biodiversity. The plan emphasises the need for more people to be involved and to share their voice, allowing for the creation of a permanent assembly on nature.
Their calls for action are broken down into eight themes; vision and leadership, regulation and implementation, nature friendly farming, food production and consumption, marine protection for our coastal waters, waterway and catchment management, local access to nature and using evidence effectively. Calling on National Governments, Local Governments, Businesses, Food Businesses, Charities and NGOs, Individuals and Communities to act. Actions include the creation of a cross-party commitment to action on the UK Future Wellbeing Act, all supermarkets and food retailers to be required to be transparent about the sources of their products and impact on nature, urgently restoring all rivers and wetlands to a healthy ecological status, with legally binding targets and create a bridge between stakeholders and communities to communicate and support local action and encourage public involvement. More can be found here: https://peoplesplanfornature.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/PPFN-ExecutiveSummary-160323-FINAL%20W%20Links.pdf
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