Millets are entering a new phase of scientific development as advances in genomics and biotechnology create opportunities to improve their climate resilience, productivity and nutritional quality.

A comprehensive review published in Current Research in Biotechnology examines recent progress in the application of genomic sequencing, multi-omics technologies and gene editing to millet improvement.

The review, authored by Stanislaus Antony Ceasar, A. R. Sree Rathna and Gholamreza Abdi, draws on approximately 170 primary studies to assess the technologies available for improving these historically under-researched cereal crops.

Researchers highlight significant progress in understanding the genomes of foxtail millet, pearl millet and finger millet. Advanced genomic tools now allow scientists to investigate structural variations, identify genes associated with desirable agricultural traits and explore how different millet varieties respond to environmental stresses.

One important development involves pan-genome research, which captures genetic diversity across multiple varieties rather than relying on a single reference genome.

In pearl millet, genomic investigations have identified more than 420,000 structural variants, offering valuable information for understanding genetic diversity and identifying potential breeding targets.

Researchers have also made progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow millets to tolerate drought, heat, salinity and nutrient-deficient soils.

Gene-editing technologies are becoming increasingly important. Studies involving foxtail millet have demonstrated how CRISPR-based modifications can influence drought tolerance, grain characteristics and other agricultural traits.

However, the review identifies an important gap in nutritional improvement.

Although finger millet is recognised for its calcium content and pearl millet for its iron and zinc, scientists still have limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling mineral accumulation in millet grains.

The researchers report that genome-edited or transgenic millet lines with experimentally demonstrated increases in grain iron, zinc or calcium have not yet been established in the literature they reviewed.

Emerging technologies such as single-cell analysis, epigenomics and artificial intelligence could help address these challenges by improving understanding of gene regulation and supporting more precise breeding decisions.

The review also identifies continuing research gaps in smaller millet species, particularly kodo and barnyard millet, where genomic resources remain less developed.

Overall, the findings indicate that modern biotechnology is creating new possibilities for millet improvement. Translating these discoveries into commercially useful, field-tested varieties will be essential for strengthening the role of millets in climate-resilient agriculture and food security.