Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour. 22(1): 1-16 (2009) Food Security and Climate Change: Role of Plant Genetic Resources of Minor Millets 1 Introduction A study released by the Climate Change Research Centre of the Purdue University in the USA (Ashfaq et al. 2009) depicted a very worrying scenario of the effect that climate change may have in South Asia. The findings which were based on high resolution climate modeling projected a delay in the start of the monsoon season of up to 15 days by the end of the 21 st century, accompanied by less summer precipitation and longer breaks between the rainy periods. Similarly, worrying results based on greenhouse gas concentrations emission trends published by the Indian Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, 2005a) warned against temperature increase of as much as 3-4 o C towards the same timeline in India. While further research is needed to sharpening spatial resolution for regional and local manifestations of these likely climate impacts, there seems to be increasing scientific evidence that agricultural production will be heavily affected in South Asia in the coming decades. Furthermore, it is speculated that an increase of only 2 o C will have consequences in terms of shifting of cultivation Food Security and Climate Change: Role of Plant Genetic Resources of Minor Millets S Padulosi 1 , Bhag Mal 2 , S Bala Ravi 3 , J Gowda 4 , KTK Gowda 4 , G Shanthakumar 5 , N Yenagi 5 and M Dutta 6 1 Bioversity International, Maccarese (Rome), Italy 2 Bioversity International, New Delhi, India 3 M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India 4 University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India 5 University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, India 6 G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Hill Campus, Ranichauri, India Recent climate modeling findings regarding climate change in South Asia warn against the impact that predicted modifications in monsoon dynamics will create in the region by the end of this century, including fewer summer precipitations and longer breaks between rainy periods. Rice and wheat cultivation are expected to be affected in terms of cultivation patterns and yield reduction. Such a scenario calls for urgent and strategic interventions towards adaptive agricultural measures that while ensuring a continued food production to an ever growing population, will buffer populations against the threats of climate change. A great ally to that end is represented by the plant genetic resources of minor millets that are well suited to enhance resilience of local production systems and strengthen food and nutrition security, particularly among the rural poor. In case of India, the largest grower of minor millets in the world, the cultivation of these small-seeded millets, has declined steadily over the past few decades due to their lower economic competitiveness with major commodity cereals. Finger millet, kodo millet, foxtail millet, little millet, proso millet and barnyard millet, have a wide genetic adaptation and are able to grow successfully in diverse soils, varying rainfall regimes, diverse photoperiods and in marginal, arid and mountainous terrains where major cereals have low success. They have the potential to thrive with low inputs and can withstand severe edapho-climatic stresses, thus being the best candidates to replace commodities like wheat and rice in areas where such crops may gradually become less competitive due to climate change. These qualities are combined with excellent nutritional values and opportunities for strengthening income generation through value addition. Key Words: Minor millets, Genetic resources, Climate change, Nutrition, Food security patterns and yield reduction of rice and wheat (DEFRA, 2005b), which are staple crops for more than one third of the world’s population concentrated in this region. Governments need to act strategically now to implement adaptive agricultural programmes that while ensuring a continued and stable food production to an ever growing population in the region will mitigate predicted risks, enhance adaptive measures and resilience of production systems. Neglected and underutilized crop genetic resources are very vital for sustainable agriculture (Eyzaguirre, et al., 1999; Bhag Mal, 2007) and minor millets belong to this important group of crops (Dutta et al., 2007). Plant genetic resources play a critical role in enhancing adaptation and resilience of agricultural production systems (Jarvis et al., 2007). Lessons learnt from the Green Revolution indicate however that a broader spectrum of species including locally adapted species and landraces are needed to harness their livelihood potential to cope with rainfall, marginal soils and other biotic and abiotic stresses (Martini-Bettolo, 1988; Qualset, et al., 1995;