Utilization of Millet Varieties in Food and Nutritional Security

Abstract

Nutritional insecurity imposes a severe threat to the exponentially growing world’s population. Currently, global nutritional security is predominantly dependent on cereal-based diets which are poor in micronutrients. In Asia, Africa, and the semi-arid tropical regions, major cereal grains and millets are the primary sources of energy. The most important millet species are foxtail, finger, proso, and pearl millets. Regarding the amounts of macro- and micronutrients they contain, millets are equivalent to major cereals. Millets are more nutritious than other cereals as they contain a substantial number of proteins, minerals, essential amino acids, and vitamins. Millets are rich in phytochemicals and are gluten-free. The storage stability and nutritional value of millets can be enhanced by employing diverse processing and biofortification methods. Till now, only limited attempts are done for the biofortification of millets due to the presence of antinutrients. Genetic engineering modifications like clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases and conventional traditional breeding methods, and agronomic methods, including chemical modification, are common methods to be utilized to reduce the antinutrients or to enhance the better nutritional values of millet. This chapter provides detailed information regarding functional properties, nutritional status, numerous techniques for enhancing the nutritional value of millets and potential tools for crop improvement to enhance the use of these traditional crops in meeting food and nutritional security.