Name: A forgotten ancient grain that could help Africa prosper
Uploaded: 2017-09-13T14:45:42Z
Duration: 15 min 24 s
Description: Forget quinoa. Meet fonio, an ancient "miracle grain" native to Senegal that's versatile, nutritious and gluten-free. In this passionate talk, chef Pierre Thiam shares his obsession with the hardy crop and explains why he believes that its industrial-scale cultivation could transform societies in Africa.

Forget quinoa. Meet fonio, an ancient "miracle grain" native to Senegal that's versatile, nutritious and gluten-free. In this passionate talk, chef Pierre Thiam shares his obsession with the hardy crop and explains why he believes that its industrial-scale cultivation could transform societies in Africa.

A forgotten ancient grain that could help Africa prosper

Fonio, a 5,000-year-old grain from West Africa, thrives in dry, poor soils where nothing else will grow. Packed with essential amino acids and gluten-free, it has largely vanished from urban diets but remains a lifeline in the Sahel, where desertification drives mass migration. By scaling up fonio production and overcoming colonial-era biases, this ancient crop could create jobs, fight hunger, and revitalize communities facing climate threats.

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Africa

agriculture

farming

food

innovation

TED Stage Talk

Pierre Thiam: A forgotten ancient grain that could help Africa prosper