The United Nations declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to, the socio-cultural, nutritional, and environmental benefits of millet cultivation. To celebrate the IYM 2023, the SDSN will host a webinar series and photography contest to highlight the many culinary uses of millet. We would be grateful if you could share this announcement and hope to see you there!
Webinar Series
Webinar 1: History of Millet
June 9, 2023 | 5 am EDT | 11 am CEST | 2:30 pm IST | Register
This webinar will describe the different varieties of millet and how they were domesticated over millennia, where they are grown, as well as provide a general overview of how different cultures use them in cuisine. Featured speakers include:
• Paul Newnham, Director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub Secretariat and Coordinator of the Chef’s Manifesto
• Chef Manisha Bhasin, Corporate Executive Chef at ITC Hotels
• Chubbamenla Jamir, Co-Lead for Mountain Agriculture thematic Working Group of the Himalayan Universities Consortium
Webinar 2: Sustainability of Millet
July 7, 2023 | 10 am PST | 1 pm EST | 8 pm EAT | Register
This webinar will review the sustainability aspects of growing millet, including the reduced need for inputs (e.g., water, fertilizer, pesticides), as well as its resilience to climate change. Featured speakers include:
• Chef Pierre Thiam, Executive Chef of Nok by Alara (Lagos, Nigeria); Signature Chef of the Pullman Hotel (Dakar, Senegal); Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Teranga (New York City, USA)
• Dr . Rebbie Harawa, Country Representative for Kenya and Regional Director for Eastern & Southern Africa, ICRISAT
• Lauren Barredo, Chief of Staff, SDSN
Webinar 3: Nutritional Benefits of Millet
Date TBD
This webinar will review the nutritional content of millet and the role it can play in achieving SDG2, particularly in arid settings where food scarcity is a challenge and climate change is a threat.
Youth Photography Contest
Beginning June 1 and running through August 31, 2023, we invite youth to submit photos of millet. Submissions will be received on Twitter or Instagram by using the hashtags #IYM2023 and #MyMillet, and tagging @UNSDSN. Each submission must include a caption with (at minimum) the location (e.g., Bangalore, India) and the name of the millet (e.g., finger millet). The contest will be open to youth, ages 16 to 30, from anywhere in the world. Each individual can submit no more than three photos for consideration.
There will be two prizes. One photo selected by the committee will be featured on the cover of SDSN’s millet cookbook. A second 'People’s Choice Award' will go to the photo with the most likes. Winners will be announced via Twitter and Instagram in September 2023. The selection committee will be comprised of Chubamenla Jamir (Mountain Agriculture Center, India), Lauren Barredo (SDSN, USA), Brighton Kaoma (SDSN Youth, Zambia), Grady Walker (University of Reading, UK), and Inbal Abergil (Pace University, USA). Photos will be judged based on storytelling, creativity, and composition.
Read more on these events here
