This Drought-Resistant Grain Could Feed a Warmer World

Protein-packed, gluten-free and drought-resistant, fonio — a grain indigenous to West Africa — has long been seen as an ideal crop for populations afflicted by climate-induced hunger. But a lack of research and serious investment has kept it from taking off.  

#cop27 #africa #food

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[jimhenry]

Sorghum plants can practically grow on concrete upside down.
The stalk is full of sugar juice, the berries can be pounded into a staple flour, the the compressed stalks are then fed to cattle.
One guy can harvest 2 acres per day with a machete.
I designed a steam turbine power plant for Rawandan villages, that ran on Sorghum ethanol.

[patriciarodriguesrentes]

Açaí is now known and consumed around the world as another "super food". When I first tasted it, in 1983, it was a traditional food in the Amazonian state of Pará, here in Brazil. From the poorest citizen to the Governor, everyone consumed açaí on a daily basis.
It is extracted from the seeds of a beautiful palm tree, Euterpe oleracea. Only a thin outer layer is used. Despite all the local prestige, it was unknown in Brazil outside the Amazon and was on the way to extinction, due to massive cutting for the extraction and export of palm hearts.
Well, açaí was saved by consumption in Rio de Janeiro, initially by bodybuilders. They have been the ones who publicized its benefits throughout Brazil and the world. Those who previously cut the palm trees started to cultivate them and today the production is no longer by extractivism, as in the 80's. There are already selected cultivars, more productive etc. Species saved. All this to say that it might be worth encouraging consumption around the world, even if it is initially expensive. With strong demand, everything happens faster.
Good luck for the fonio!

[halstaples]

First time I have heard of this grain. Moreover, the lady telling the story is a very important informer: Scale it up. Thank you very much.

[CC.]

I wish Chef Binta and her colleagues a smooth path to great success, as they pioneer the mass production of fonio. I hope to see this expand for people living in the Sahel, for women's financial security, for our environment, and for African economic growth; I hope to be able to try it, as well.

[brightmal]

The processing of this crop could involve a lot of organic waste that would be great for an anaerobic digestion process, generating onsite power for the processing machinery and great fertiliser to further enrich the land. I'd love to set up an anaerobic digester at one of these processing facilities.

[irose]

I am from India from TAMILNADU. Here we divide as millets varieties. It was used as older days. Now we forget those millets. Now organic awareness bringing back those Millet varieties. Around 6 main millet varieties famously used now. But cost is very high as compare to rice like 3 to 4 times. In future those prices may come down in high production. Nice topic.. spread the awareness of drought tolerance crops for better future.

[cliffwoodbury]

I hope this works out well because its going to be agriculture that will be the biggest incentive to build the green wall to its specification, and if they can reach the goal in mind then they will push the desert back even farther for more agriculture gains.

[cultivatingwellness]

Finally! So glad to see ancient grains of West Africa here. You can purchase fonio in the States check out the brand Yolele foods, owned by Chef Pierre Thiam. The fonio is organic & grown by women in Senegal & Mali

[riarebolledo]

From the Philippines here, thank you for sharing this.

[johngraham]

Sounds like an ideal crop for Australian farmers to get into too

[darthvader]

A single sorghum plant can produce 3 pounds of grain. One sorghum variety in Mongolia being cultivated by Mongolian nomads in the 1950s was recorded to be able to produce 4.95 pounds of grain under the harsh hot desert like conditions of Mongolia which is alternatingly EXTREMELY COLD ALSO for Mongolia is a combination of extreme cold and extreme heat.

[pikachu]

Millets were commonly used in India before wheat, now wheat flour is like ₹40/kg while millets generally are priced ₹130/kg, which is about 3 times as costly, when it comes to taste, wheat definitely wins, but in terms of nutrition millets are a clear winner, they have more micronutrients, no gluten, more fibres, easily digestible and have low glycaemic index (low blood sugar spike).

[Unfollowthem]

Before 1960's no one focused on Water intensive crops in India... Suddenly Green revolution came suppressed Draught crops... Imbalance happened... 1990 again we saw full of Chemical fertilizer, Chemical Pesticides... Today food, water is poisoned...

[Miamcoline]

Very cool to learn about great potential thats readily available like this.

[anhope]

And you have to restrict non african grown fonio and its by products from entering the market

[CitiesForTheFuture]

I've seen a few TED talks on fonio. A mill has been developed (by an African engineer) to process it - not sure how widespread it has been marketed.

[ElectronFieldPulse]

Man, they are stretching the definition of "colonize". Even pursuing their own culinary interests is not decolonizing. Europeans weren't sailing to other countries tries to force their cuisine on everyone. Honestly, for Africa's own benefits, people there should not focus so much on their role as a victim.

[hitesh]

Super 👍👍✌️..every country should encourage local crops and ban Bayer

[buddhapiyao]

sorghum, millets are very hardy crops capable of growing in arid regions without much maintenance. I am from India and in the state of Karnataka, the northern Karnataka villages have always been drought ridden. but Sorghum and a few kinds of millets grew there with little effort. and the best part is that these can be harvested within 4 months from sowing. food shortage I personally believe is a myth. There is more than enough food to feed the world 3 times a day. It is our responsibility to reverse climate change. its straight politics to blame climate change for food shortage. every inch of available land can be used to grow some kind of produce. every window sill every balcony every backyard, frontyard every terrace every porch can be used to grow something edible. I have a kitchen and a living room window sill where I grow creepers like gourds and herbs. the space is just 4 ft x2.5x6 ft but I get enough vegetables for my use. some planters can be kept inside the house too for stuff that dont need too much sun. e.g mustard greens, spinach fenugreek greens can be grown with just a few hours of sunlight too.

[mfaizsyahmi]

There needs to be more research into it. How to mechanize and scale up all levels of production. How to increase yields. Only then will it be able to compete with other grains.