Who We Are
We are the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum and Millet, referred to as the Sorghum and Millet Innovation Lab (SMIL).
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sorghum and Millet is a consortium of cutting-edge research aimed at improving the adaptation and resilience of sorghum and pearl millet to the semi-arid climates of East and West Africa. SMIL links the U.S.A. and international universities and research organizations in a collaborative effort to build human and institutional capacity in Ethiopia, Haiti, Niger and Senegal.
SMIL was established in July 2013 at Kansas State University to contribute technologies and knowledge toward the adaptation, resilience, and improved profitability of sorghum- and millet-based production systems and value chains to make sorghum and pearl millet the crops of the future.
The SMIL management team at Kansas State University focuses on adaptive management to allow for projects and research to evolve as the conditions change in focus countries.
SMIL-sponsored research is demand driven and builds upon priorities established by end users in each country. Research is participative and led by in-country teams and coordinators. Our initial “First Mile” engagement with public and private stakeholders around technology development and continued cooperation ensures technology delivery in the “Last Mile.”