Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The #IYM2023 Global Chefs Challenge!

As a chef or a seasoned cook, have you ever prepared a recipe using millets? If you haven't, it's time to unlock their great potential. Millets are so diverse in taste, and in the variety of products and recipes they produce. Rich in heritage, there are endless ways to prepare and enjoy these nutritious grains. 2023 is the International Year of Millets and we're counting on YOU to join the #IYM2023 Global Chefs Challenge. So, get your cooking tools ready and join us on Instagram!

Chefs around the world are sharing videos where they show off recipes on how they love to prepare and eat millets. Listen as they talk about the many nutritious benefits of this ancient grain, full of dietary fibre, antioxidants, protein and minerals, including iron. It's even gluten free with a low glycaemic index to address intolerances and diabetes.

How does the challenge work?  

Step 1 - Choose a dish to prepare using a type of millet (there are so many to choose from - pearl, proso, foxtail, barnyard, little, kodo, browntop, finger and Guinea millets as well as fonio, sorghum and teff!) 

Step 2 - Record a video of yourself preparing your recipe and tell us about it. Explain what the dish is, what type of millet you're using, and the nutritional benefits.  

Step 3 – Share it!  

  • Post the video to your social media channels using @FAO #IYM2023 #YearofMillets.  
  • Don't forget to tag other chefs or seasoned cooks you know and challenge them to join and create their own video. 
  • Feel free to send @FAO a collab request. We may regram some of your videos for our followers!  
The challenge begins with fonio
Chef Fatmata Binta launches the Global Chefs Challenge with a recipe using fonio. In 2022, Chef Binta became the first African to receive the Basque Culinary World Prize, recognizing her culinary practice that is rooted in the Fulani people's cooking traditions in West Africa. She set up the Fulani Kitchen Foundation supporting women farmers and their cultivation of fonio as a crop that is nutritious, resilient to climate change and one that can bring an additional source of income. Chef Binta is a strong promoter of the International Year of Millets 2023.