BREAKING Emerging Trends in the Global Millet Business Sector · Geopolitical Risks, Monsoon Concerns, and the Rise of Millets
Chief Editor: Mr. Prasanna Srinivas Sarkadam

Global Millet Leaders

A profile directory of farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, manufacturers, policy makers and institutions contributing to the global millet movement.

Joanna Kane-Potaka
Joanna Kane-Potaka
Smart Food Founder / Former ICRISAT Leader
Smart Food / ICRISAT / GFAiR
Scientist / Researcher
📍 Australia

Global narrative builder for “good for you, good for the planet, good for the farmer” crops.Millet Relevance:...

Dr. Chrispus Oduori
Dr. Chrispus Oduori
Director, Finger Millet Breeder
KALRO Food Crops Research Institute, Kisii
Scientist / Researcher
📍 Kenya

East Africa’s long-term finger millet improvement champion.Millet Relevance: Worked for decades on improved fi...

Z
Zhang Guohua
Millet Research Leader
Shanxi Agricultural University ecosystem
Scientist / Researcher
📍 China

Representative of China’s deep foxtail millet heritage and modern research systems.Millet Relevance: Works wit...

Dr. Himanshu Pathak
Dr. Himanshu Pathak
Director General
ICRISAT
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Institutional leader at one of the world’s most important dryland crop research centers.Millet Relevance: As I...

Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi
Dr. C. Tara Satyavathi
Director, ICAR-IIMR
ICAR-IIMR
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Pioneer of micronutrient standards in pearl millet release policy.Millet Relevance: Introduced minimum iron an...

Dr. B. Dayakar Rao
Dr. B. Dayakar Rao
Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIMR | Millet Processing and Value-Addition Leader
ICAR-IIMR
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Bridge between research, processing technology and millet entrepreneurship.Millet Relevance: Helped make mille...

Dr. Vilas A. Tonapi
Dr. Vilas A. Tonapi
Former Director
ICAR-IIMR
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Institution builder for modern millet research and innovation infrastructure.Millet Relevance: Strengthened IC...

Dr. M. Vetriventhan
Dr. M. Vetriventhan
Principal Scientist, ICRISAT | Small Millet and Genetic Resources Specialist
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Researcher strengthening small millet diversity, breeding and climate-resilience work.Millet Relevance: Works...

Dr. Are Ashok Kumar
Dr. Are Ashok Kumar
Principal Scientist, ICRISAT | Sorghum and Nutrition Breeding Specialist
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Biofortification and nutrition-focused dryland crop researcher.Millet Relevance: Works on improving sorghum an...

Prof. Fred Kanampiu
Prof. Fred Kanampiu
Sustainable Agriculture Research Leader, KALRO Ecosystem
Scientist / Researcher
📍 Kenya

African sustainable agriculture leader connecting millets with climate-smart systems.Millet Relevance: Represe...

Debal Deb
Debal Deb
Conservation Scientist and Seed Keeper
Scientist / Researcher

Biodiversity defender preserving traditional crop varieties and seed knowledge.Millet Relevance: Represents th...

Dr. Qu Dongyu
Dr. Qu Dongyu
Director-General
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Scientist / Researcher
📍 United States

Dr. Qu Dongyu has served as the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation...

S
Shalini Bhutani
Legal Researcher and Seed Sovereignty Advocate
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Policy and legal voice for farmers’ rights and biodiversity governance.Millet Relevance: Her work is relevant...

Dr. S. Kannaiyan
Dr. S. Kannaiyan
Hybrid Seed and Private-Sector Millet Innovation Specialist
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Private-sector voice in pearl millet hybrid development.Millet Relevance: Represents how seed companies and pr...

Dr. Stanford Blade
Dr. Stanford Blade
Deputy Director General
ICRISAT
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Dr. Stanford Blade is the Deputy Director General – Research and Innovation at ICRISAT, where he works to adva...

Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes
Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes
Director General
ICRISAT
Scientist / Researcher
📍 India

Dr. Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, former Director General of ICRISAT, will become Secretary General of the World...