Millets and food security: a sustainable response to growing population needs

The increasing lack and limitations of key cereals such as rice and wheat, aggravated by climate change, growing population, and declining agricultural sustainability, pose significant threats to global food and nutrition security. In this review, millets—often termed as “nutri-cereals”—appear as a viable alternative due to their resilience to adverse agro-climatic conditions, higher nutritional profile, and diverse health-promoting properties. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the potential of millets in enhancing food and nutritional security, focusing on their nutritional and antinutritional composition, processing methods, health benefits, and patterns of global and Indian production. In vivo and in-vitro evidence suggests that millet consumption helps in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and certain cancers. Although enriched with essential nutrients and bioactive compounds, millets contain antinutritional factors that can be reduced through traditional and modern processing techniques. Despite these benefits, challenges to consumer acceptance persist, driven by cultural preferences, sensory limitations, and limited market penetration. Policy initiatives in India and globally reflect the increasing recognition of millets as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, livelihood security, and women’s empowerment. The integration of millets into mainstream diets, supported by processing technologies, public procurement, and awareness strategies, offers a sustainable solution to malnutrition while advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.