"Grain Mixtures Could Offer Climate Adaptation"

Cornell University scientists published research on ancient cereal grain mixes and their potential to adapt in real time to climate change. Researchers learned that some farmers in Ethiopia sow cereal grain mixes called maslins that can contain rice, millet, wheat, rye, barley, triticale, emmer, and more. Researchers found that maslins have been used for more than 3,000 years and in at least 27 countries, for food and livestock fodder, but the ancient practice is nearly forgotten. The crops are grown together, and the resulting grain is used as a single product, which varies in composition depending upon the current growing season’s conditions. The variety within the crop helps farmers deal with climate variability, and also allows maslins to be drought tolerant, pest resistant, and produce more stable yields than a single crop. READ MORE