USGC explores opportunities for sorghum in India

INDIA- To tap into the growing demand for coarse grains in India, the US Grains Council (USGC) recently conducted an exploratory trade mission across six cities, promoting opportunities for US sorghum in various sectors. 

Partnering with the United Sorghum Checkoff Program (USCP) and the National Sorghum Producers, the mission addressed potential applications of sorghum in human consumption, industrial starch extraction, feed grain, and ethanol production.

Jace Hefner, Manager of Global Trade at the USGC, emphasized India’s historical use of sorghum in human diets and its familiarity with the nutritional benefits of the crop. He highlighted the significant potential for inclusion in India’s rapidly expanding snack food market.

India is currently grappling with a potential coarse grain shortage due to a growing demographic, below-average monsoon rains, and increased corn consumption for both animal feed and industrial purposes. 

The USGC noted that the existing bans on genetically modified (GM) ingredients and India’s deep cultural history of sorghum use create an opportunity for US sorghum to address the escalating scarcity of coarse grains.

The tannin-free characteristics of US sorghum drew particular interest from the Indian feed manufacturing industry. The high tannin content in Indian jowar has historically limited its use in animal feed, and the US sorghum’s unique characteristics present a promising solution.

During the mission, the delegation thoroughly analyzed the Indian food sorghum market and supply chain. They engaged with small-scale farmers cultivating jowar (Indian sorghum) and explored opportunities for incorporating sorghum into higher-end food products.

The delegation also visited a starch processing plant, showcasing research funded by the USCP conducted at the University of Illinois. The research highlighted sorghum’s superior starch yields compared to Indian corn, the current sole raw material for Indian starch manufacturers.

On the mission’s final day, the team promoted using US sorghum in ethanol manufacturing. With India aiming to achieve an E20 blend policy by 2025-26 to address environmental challenges, sorghum emerged as a low-carbon feedstock with attributes aligning with India’s climate goals. 

Sorghum’s lower water consumption, minimal fertilizer needs, and low-carbon production requirements position it as an ideal choice for sustainable ethanol production in India.

The US Grains Council expressed its commitment to continue sharing the merits of US sorghum across all applicable sectors with India’s industry leaders. Norma Ritz Johnson, Executive Director of the USCP, termed the mission a “great first step” towards securing opportunities for US sorghum in the Indian market.

She expressed excitement about the potential solutions that sorghum’s value proposition could deliver, eagerly anticipating the future.

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