Bill Gates Sees Potential in Millets to Fight Malnutrition and Climate Change

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has expressed his fascination with millets, an ancient family of grains, and their potential to combat malnutrition and adapt to climate change. In a recent blog post, Gates highlighted the importance of millets like Fonio, Finger Millet, and Teff, which have been staple foods in parts of Africa and India for centuries.

Gates noted that millets possess many qualities that farmers look for, such as being reliable to grow, and can play a significant role in helping farmers adapt to a warming world. He emphasized the nutritional benefits of millets, which are rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. "Millets have many qualities that farmers look for, such as being reliable to grow, and can play a significant role in helping farmers adapt to a warming world," Gates wrote.

The Gates Foundation has been working with partners to make staple crops more climate-resilient, and sees millets as an important part of the solution. Initiatives are underway to improve the commercial processing and market presence of these ancient grains, with the goal of enabling local farmers to earn better livelihoods and making these nutritious foods more widely available.

Why this matters: The promotion of millets by Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation highlights the potential of these ancient grains to address global challenges such as malnutrition and climate change. By supporting initiatives to improve the cultivation, processing, and market presence of millets, there is an opportunity to enhance food security, support local farmers, and provide nutritious options for communities around the world.

Gates questioned why millets are not eaten more widely, given their potential to improve food security in parts of the world where it is increasingly uncertain. He pointed out that millets are widely cultivated in countries like India, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Specifically, he mentioned that finger millets, known as 'ragi' in India, are a staple food in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. This is not the first time Gates has spoken about his interest in millets, as he previously helped prepare millet khichdi during a visit to India in March, where he cooked the dish with Union Minister Smriti Irani to encourage the use of millets.

Key Takeaways

• Bill Gates expressed fascination with millets for their potential to combat malnutrition and climate change.
• Millets are nutritious, climate-resilient, and can help farmers adapt to a warming world.
• The Gates Foundation is working to improve the commercial processing and market presence of millets.
• Promoting millets can enhance food security, support local farmers, and provide nutritious options globally.
• Gates questioned why millets are not eaten more widely, given their benefits in parts of Africa and India.