Millets thrive in arid conditions, require minimal inputs, and are highly resilient to climate variability, making them a sustainable solution for improving self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on imported cereals.
Recognizing their vital role in global food security and climate resilience, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led global efforts to raise awareness about these nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crops, while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), through its Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, continued to invest in research and development for these crops.
The IYM 2023 generated momentum for increased research, investment, and policy support across the millet value chain. In support of this initiative, the IAEA launched a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) titled Accelerated Genetic Improvement of Key Dryland Millets for Climate Change Adaptation.
This project focuses on developing novel genetic stocks of key dryland millet species — pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, and proso millet — by applying mutation breeding and advanced biotechnologies such as genomics and gene editing. Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint Centre, emphasized that the project aligns with efforts to enhance crop resilience against environmental and socioeconomic shocks by diversifying beyond a few staple crops, many of which are imported, according to a press release.
Now in its second year, the project has formed a strong international consortium of leading research institutes, universities, and agricultural organizations from Burkina Faso, China, Ethiopia, India, Namibia, Sri Lanka, and the USA. The FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division also collaborates, particularly in identifying country-specific constraints within the millet value chain.
A Research Coordination Meeting for the project took place from April 7–11, 2025, in Vienna, Austria, where participants assessed progress and planned next steps. The meeting provided a platform for scientists to present early results, exchange knowledge, and collaboratively develop complementary work plans. Discussions focused on deploying high-throughput digital phenotyping tools, integrating genomics, and applying innovative breeding technologies to accelerate varietal development. There was also a focus on enhancing millet resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses and improving nutritional profiles to meet global health needs. The participants toured the state-of-the-art laboratories at the Joint Centre in Seibersdorf, located about 45 km outside Vienna. These labs are considered a crucial resource, particularly for developing countries, for screening the large number of mutants generated by this initiative.
“This CRP is not only generating new scientific knowledge but also strengthening national capacities in plant breeding and genetics, while supporting smallholder farmers through the development of adaptable, productive, and resilient millet varieties,” said Fatma Sarsu of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint Centre who, as the scientific secretary of the CRP, coordinates this global consortium of plant scientists. “The initiative embodies a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, addressing breeding, agronomy, climate resilience, value addition, market development, and policy advocacy,” she added.
Through global partnerships, innovation, and the strengthening of scientific capacity, this project demonstrates how collaborative research can drive sustainable change in the millet sector and beyond, ensuring resilient agrifood systems for future generations.
