Mukherjee Bishal, Jha Ratnesh Kumar, Sattar Abdus, Dutta Suman, Bhattacharya Urjashi, Samanta Snigdha, Huirem Boris, Singh Shivam Kumar, Das Suddhasuchi, Bal Santanu Kumar
Centre for Advanced Studies on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India.
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal, India.
Front Plant Sci. 2025 Jun 11;16:1574699. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1574699. eCollection 2025.
Millets are increasingly gaining global attention for their immense potential to address major challenges such as hunger and malnutrition, and the climatic risks on agricultural production. With the world's population steadily increasing, it is essential to find sustainable solutions for regional food and nutrition security, and support the livelihoods of farmers-especially under changing climate. Among various crops, small millets offer a promising yet underutilized option in the pursuit of food and nutritional security. These crops possess superior nutritional profiles compared to traditional staple cereals and demonstrate exceptional resilience to harsh environmental conditions. They can grow with minimal irrigation and thrive on poor-quality soils. This makes millets ideal for sustainable agriculture in challenging environments. This review highlights the current status of small millets, including their nutritional and health benefits, processing techniques, and recent advancements in genomics. It emphasizes the importance of integrating small millets into mainstream agricultural systems and applying omics technologies to fully realize their potential in combating food insecurity under climate stress. Additionally, the review explores modern genomic and genetic engineering approaches that aim to enhance the climate resilience of small millets. By understanding the molecular basis of these traits, researchers can develop improved varieties with greater adaptability and consistent yields under variable environmental conditions. The comprehensive analysis presented in this review serves as a strategic roadmap for leveraging next-generation technologies to improve key traits in small millets. The ultimate goal is to develop superior varieties that can address the complex challenges of agri-food production system under climate uncertainties. Furthermore, the review outlines pathways to increase the commercial appeal and market viability of millets. By focusing on the development and promotion of small millets, the agricultural sector can take significant steps toward achieving food, nutritional, and economic security in the wake of growing global challenges.
由于小米在应对饥饿和营养不良等重大挑战以及农业生产面临的气候风险方面具有巨大潜力，其在全球范围内正日益受到关注。随着世界人口稳步增长，找到区域粮食和营养安全的可持续解决方案并支持农民生计至关重要，尤其是在气候变化的情况下。在各种作物中，小杂粮在追求粮食和营养安全方面提供了一个有前景但未得到充分利用的选择。与传统主食谷物相比，这些作物具有更优的营养成分，并且对恶劣环境条件表现出非凡的适应能力。它们只需极少的灌溉就能生长，在劣质土壤中也能茁壮成长。这使得小米成为挑战性环境下可持续农业的理想选择。本综述突出了小杂粮的现状，包括它们的营养和健康益处、加工技术以及基因组学的最新进展。它强调了将小杂粮纳入主流农业系统并应用组学技术以充分发挥其在应对气候压力下粮食不安全问题方面潜力的重要性。此外，该综述探讨了旨在提高小杂粮气候适应能力的现代基因组和基因工程方法。通过了解这些性状的分子基础，研究人员可以培育出在可变环境条件下具有更强适应性和稳定产量的改良品种。本综述中呈现的综合分析为利用下一代技术改善小杂粮关键性状提供了战略路线图。最终目标是培育出能够应对气候不确定性下农业食品生产系统复杂挑战的优良品种。此外，该综述概述了提高小米商业吸引力和市场可行性的途径。通过专注于小杂粮的开发和推广，农业部门可以在应对日益增长的全球挑战方面朝着实现粮食、营养和经济安全迈出重要步伐。
