Before Millie’s time here at SHIFT Environment, she completed her BSc in Environmental Biology at the University of Nottingham. During her final year, she grasped the opportunity to work alongside academic professionals on
an ongoing project, launched by the EU, ReAlising DynamIc vAlue chaiNs for(RADIANT)-H2020, for her dissertation [1]. This project aimed to collect information on various underutilised crops across different biogeographical regions in Europe. Out of the twenty farms sites, the Nottinghamshire-based farm assessed the crop Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), where Millie and her co-supervisor studied its adaptation to the UK, the potential genotypes and valuable traits.
Millie gained extensive background knowledge on global food security being threatened by climate change, during her time researching [2]. She learnt that the current intensive agriculture system, with an ever-increasing global population, is a set up for failure. Widespread monocultures are killing biodiversity, depleting soil and water quality and reducing the nutritional value of the foods [3]. Underutilised crops are a great alternative to support with crop diversification, whilst providing climate resilience and high nutritional value [4]. Millets possess these features, with Foxtail millet providing a wide range of health benefits, due to its nutritional superiority [5]. This crop originates from China and mostly grown in Asia but has the potential to be a widespread crop in the UK.
The Foxtail millet plantation consisted of 250 different genotypes, mainly from Asia, Eastern Europe and a few from Africa. Millie joined the project when the crops were ready to be harvested, where she helped collect the plants by hand from the field, and measure the panicles and pedicles in the laboratory. She then took pictures of each individual genotype, before being placed into the thresher, and then a seed counting machine, to calculate the seed weight. Millie carried out statistical tests using GenStat and attempted to analyse the photos using FIJI software to calculate RGB values and convert them into a colour value. These values didn’t correspond into correct colour values, which was disappointing, nevertheless she carried on and decided colour analysis by eye.
Millie’s results were based on the 146 genotypes that survived the UK cultivation, from 19 different countries. The ranges of the traits studied are as followed; panicle lengths 6cm-21cm, pedicle lengths 0.43cm-21cm, 1000-grain weight 1.15g-3.62g, panicle colours 5 colours (green, brown, black, red, cream). Data analysis concluded the significant correlations found between panicle and pedicle lengths, as well as panicle length with 1000-grain weight, which all directly impact the yield. The country of origin effects the panicle lengths, which should also be considered when choosing optimum genotypes for cultivation. Millie was able to provide in detail data for all of these genotypes and identify the high-performing ones, with potential for widespread UK cultivation. However, colour and nutritional analysis will need further research, to ensure nutritional value of the high performing genotypes regarding the yield. This additional research will be conducted in the ongoing project, which is intended to be published this year.
Millie is grateful for these experiences and is eager to use her communication, critical thinking and discipline skills that she gained throughout this process and apply them to her work, at SHIFT Environment. Millie is excited to focus on a wider scope of environmental issues and sustainability, where she can enhance her knowledge.
If you would like to know more about how SHIFT Environment can help you on your environmental journey, please feel free to get in touch on [email protected]
[1] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101000622
[2] Climate Change and Emerging Food Safety Issues: A Review – ScienceDirect
[3] Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity | Nature
[5] Foxtail millet starch: structure, functionality, and applications – ScienceDirect