In the changing landscape of global trade, Kansas farmers are setting their sights on an old grain with a new vision. Sorghum, long regarded mainly as livestock feed, is being rebranded as the next superfood as growers race to acquire new buyers.
What Happened: China was once the top buyer of Sorghum, but it cancelled major purchases in January in anticipation of tariffs, according to the Wall Street Journal. As a result, storage facilities in Kansas are overflowing.
Speaking to the WSJ, Kim Barnes, CFO of Pawnee County Cooperative, said "I just kept turning over rocks and boulders until I found a place to go with it." He sold his stock to ethanol plants and feed businesses, incurring a loss.
Kansas produces most of the country's sorghum, but only a small portion is used for food. Promoters of the grain hope to change that. "We do see sorghum as kind of that ‘it' crop for domestic food," said Adam York, head of Kansas Sorghum Producers.
Why It Matters: Despite its benefits, sorghum has a long way to go, because many see it primary as cattle feed. "Because so many of us were raised on farms, there is that barrier," said dietitian Missy Schrader to the WSJ.
Despite challenges, chef George Duran is optimistic. "If we could just market it as maybe, like, ‘The Miracle Grain' or something, I think it can really go pretty far," he said.
Sorghum is the latest addition to the list of grains that have been touted as superfoods of the future. Last year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates spotlighted Fonio, a lesser-known African grain, as a game-changer that can serve as a vital staple in its native regions and also emerge as a potential solution to global food sustainability challenges.
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