A big initiative has been started by Kansas State University to address issues with millet and sorghum cultivation around the world. During the Global Sorghum Conference in Montpelier, France, where K-State is a primary sponsor, Ernie Minton, the Eldon Gideon Dean of the College of Agriculture at K-State, formally introduced the Global Collaboration for Sorghum and Millet. Enhancing these crops' sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change is the university's main goal.
Kansas State University, a top sorghum producer in the US, supports global collaboration and knowledge sharing to address global issues like diseases. As a land-grant institution, K-State offers research, extension services, and teaching capacity.
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum and Millet (SMIL), which is housed by K-State, conducted research on sorghum and millet from 2013 to 2022. This research is built upon by the Global Collaboration on Sorghum and Millet. A group of partners from the Pan African region, research organisations, development experts, and financing partners come together for the new collaboration. To advance sustainable development, climate adaption, and the expansion of the sorghum and millet value chains, it places a strong emphasis on research, engagement, and leadership.
By leveraging a global research network, the project aims to strengthen capacities and deliver appropriate technologies. Notably, the university's commitment to global collaboration has already yielded benefits for Kansas farmers, such as combating the sugarcane aphid pest through integrated plant breeding solutions.
Both Timothy Dalton and Nat Bascom, who previously oversaw SMIL, will serve as the project's leaders. Visit GlobalSorghumandMillet.com for additional details about the initiative.
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Categories: Kansas, Crops, Sorghum