A new publicly funded project is set to test whether proso millet can move from niche status to a mainstream spring break crop in the UK, as growers look for alternatives that are better suited to hotter, drier conditions and shifting market demands. The Mill-it Project will be formally launched on 23 June and is backed by Defra and Innovate UK, which recently announced at least £21.5 million for 15 farming innovation schemes in England aimed at improving resilience, emissions and productivity.

The initiative brings together farmers, scientists, food specialists and chef Dev Biswal to assess whether the grain can be grown profitably for human consumption. Emma Loder-Symonds of Nonington Farms in Kent is leading the project, working alongside The Cook's Tale restaurant, NIAB, SoyaUK and a wider group of farming partners, including Edworth Manor Farm and Hawk Mill Farms. Nonington Farms, a 400-acre family-run arable business and LEAF Demonstration Farm, has previously promoted integrated farm management, precision technology and value-added crops.

Trials will take place in Kent and Bedfordshire, alongside nutritional analysis, pre-processing work and recipe development. According to the project team, the aim is to produce the first substantial scientific and commercial assessment of proso millet for UK food and farming systems. Although millet is already cultivated in Britain for birdseed, its potential as a human food crop has received little attention.

Ms Loder-Symonds said the project would explore how millet could fit into British rotations and food systems, and examine whether processing and fermentation could improve its nutritional value. She added that the grain’s naturally gluten-free qualities, together with rising interest in gut health and fermented foods, could help open up new uses in food products and recipes. Further announcements are expected during 2026 and 2027.

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