Seeds of Change: Gary Wietgrefe on Proso Millet and Revolutionizing Regenerative Agriculture

This episode of "Regenerative by Design" features an enlightening conversation with Gary Wietgrefe, co-founder of the North American Millets Alliance. Gary and host Joni delve deep into the subject of using Proso Millet in foods, discussing its implications for regenerative agriculture and the importance of crop diversity.

Show Notes:

Guest: Gary Wietgrefe, Co-founder of North American Millets Alliance

Topics Covered:

• Overview of a recent panel discussion on Proso Millet and its use in foods.
• Gary’s extensive background in agriculture and his specialization in millet cultivation.
• The importance of crop rotation in spreading labor, preserving soil health, and preventing erosion.
• Economic and environmental benefits of diverse cropping systems.
• Challenges in market adoption for diverse crops due to lack of institutional support.
• The necessity for creating industry standards to make lesser-known crops like millet more marketable and reliable.

Key Takeaways:

• Diverse crops contribute significantly to regenerative agriculture by improving soil health and reducing the need for synthetic inputs.
• Market adoption challenges for crops like millet stem from a lack of institutional support, not from their agricultural viability.
• Establishing industry standards is crucial for the recognition and reliability of lesser-known crops, facilitating their entry into mainstream markets.

Call to Action:

• Listeners are encouraged to explore more about Proso Millet and other diverse crops. Check out the resources linked in the episode notes for more information on how you can support and promote agricultural diversity.
• Share this episode on social media to help spread the word about the benefits of crop diversity and regenerative agriculture practices.

Closing Thought:

Embracing diversity in agriculture not only supports the environment but also enhances food security. As we learn more and adapt, we pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.

Additional Resources:

• Link to North American Millets Alliance
• Gary Wietgrefe’s Publications on Millet

Regenerative by design is hosted by Snacktivist.  Snacktivist creates baking mixes and finished products that are allergy-friendly, soil, water, and carbon-focused, all while radically impacting human nutrition by transforming staple foods into something more than just empty calories.   Visit snacktivistfoods.com to learn more.

Funding for Regenerative By Design Podcast was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.