In a significant win for food security and nutrition, the Food and Agriculture Organisation declared millets a "global superfood" at the closing ceremony of the International Year of Millets 2023
At the closing ceremony of the International Year of Millet, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said that millet can be called' a global superfood' due to its nutritional and health benefits.
The closing ceremony of IYM 2023 was held in Rome, Italy, on March 29, 2024. The ceremony was hybrid, as some participants attended in person while others joined virtually.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of FAO, Dr QU Dongyu, praised the international community's efforts in promoting millet-related initiatives and emphasised the crucial role of millet in achieving food security and nutrition for all.
In his speech, the Additional Secretary of the Indian government, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, highlighted the importance of India's millet ecosystem. She said the country is home to a vast number of start-ups, industries, and FPOs that are working to promote and adopt millet.
Minister and Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to FAO Yaya Adisa Olaitan Olaniran emphasised the significance of millets and how they can be integrated into sustainable agricultural practices in Nigeria.
Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion included high-level officials from various countries, including the ministers of agriculture of more than 70 countries.
The closing ceremony of IYM 2023 was a significant step in advancing millet-related initiatives. The ceremony highlighted the various activities and events organised under the International Year of Millet 2023 across different regions, helping to raise awareness about the nutritional and health benefits of millet consumption.