Genetic Improvement of Millets for Food, Nutrition, Energy, and Environment

Dear Colleagues,

The global population is projected to reach 10 billion by the year 2050, whereas the food base has narrowed to three staple crops: rice, wheat, and maize. These three crops, and a few other plant species, cater to the nutritional requirements of the global population and, thus, have received much research attention. However, focusing the research only on these crops will not suffice to address food and nutritional security. Global Hunger Index and Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates show the alarming prevalence of food shortages and how 'hidden hunger' impacts children's future. Addiitonally, climate change is threatening present-day agriculture. The scenario is projected to worsen in the coming days, as IPCC has declared climate change 'irreversible.' Overdependence on non-renewable energy sources adds to the environmental aberrations; therefore, identifying a sustainable solution is imperative to address food, nutrition, energy, and environmental security. In this scenario, millets are shown to have the potential to address multiple securities. Considering this, the United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets.' 

Millets were once a part of our regular diet, but, consequently, have become marginally cultivated crops, confined to a particular region, race, or locality. Millets, being reared in environments with minimal resources, retain their potential to withstand heat, drought, pathogen and pest infection, and poor soil nutrition. They also have the answers to globally prevalent energy and environmental issues. Given this, research is being carried out on millets to identify the genetic determinants underlying their key traits related to food, nutrition, energy, and environment, and subsequently improving these traits using genetics and genomics approaches. 

This Special Issue aims to bring the millet research community together by publishing their research outcomes focusing on increasing millets’ adaptability and tolerance to environmental stresses, nutritional potential, bioenergy, and biofuel traits. Comprehensive reviews providing insights into the above aspects are also welcome.

Dr. Muthamilarasan Mehanathan
Guest Editor

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• millets
• genetic improvement
• food security
• nutrition
• bioenergy
• biofuel
• genomics
• trait mapping