Summary
This 2022 narrative review by Wilson and VanBuren examines millets as underutilised grain crops with significant potential for climate-resilient agriculture. The authors synthesise evidence on agronomic advantages—including drought tolerance and low input demand—alongside contemporary biotechnological and breeding innovations. The review argues that targeted breeding and biotechnology could enhance millet productivity and climate adaptation, positioning these crops as particularly relevant for smallholder and marginal land agriculture in contexts of food insecurity and climatic stress.
UK applicability
Millet breeding and climate-resilience research may have limited direct applicability to UK mainstream agriculture, where cooler temperate conditions and established cereal infrastructure favour wheat and barley. However, findings on drought-resilient trait breeding and marginal land utilisation could inform UK research on future-proofing cereal systems against increasingly variable precipitation patterns.
Key measures
Drought tolerance, water use efficiency, agronomic resilience under climate stress, breeding innovations, biotechnological interventions for millet crop improvement
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on agronomic advantages of millets (drought tolerance, low input demand) and contemporary breeding and biotechnological innovations for enhancing productivity and climate adaptation. The authors examine the potential of millets for smallholder and marginal land agriculture in food-insecure and climatically stressed contexts.
Topic tags
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