Sorghum Finds Its Spotlight: New Markets, New Research, and Growing Consumer Interest
Dec 5, 2025
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The contents of this blog come from an interview with Nora Ritz Johnson.
Grain sorghum continues to evolve beyond its traditional uses, and new opportunities are emerging for farmers and consumers alike. Recently, I spoke with Nora Ritz Johnson, Executive Director of the United Sorghum Checkoff, about the crop’s expanding future—and why sorghum is gaining more attention than ever.
According to Johnson, the Sorghum Checkoff team approaches each day with what she calls the “three P’s”:
Premium markets, production improvements, and perception. Together, these priorities are helping elevate sorghum nationwide.
Sorghum Moves Into Human Food Markets
One of the most exciting shifts is happening in human food, a premium and fast-growing market for sorghum producers. While it’s not a traditional staple for many American diets, sorghum’s unique benefits are capturing new interest.
Consumers—and even major sports figures—are beginning to recognize sorghum’s nutritional advantages. As more people talk about sorghum’s health profile, perception improves, opening the door for new uses and broader acceptance.
Johnson says growth is happening across several food sectors, including:
Restaurant menus
Institutional kitchens such as schools and cafeterias
Processed foods and packaged goods
This momentum suggests that sorghum is poised to become a more common ingredient in everyday eating.
Groundbreaking Research Coming in 2026
To support this rising interest, the Sorghum Checkoff has partnered with the USDA and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to conduct the first-ever human clinical trial focused specifically on sorghum. Results are expected in 2026, and the study will examine how sorghum may impact:
Insulin resistance
Gut health and the microbiome
Inflammation
These findings could play a major role in shaping sorghum’s reputation as a health-forward grain and further open doors in the food industry.
Looking Ahead
As efforts continue to strengthen markets, improve production, and shift public perception, sorghum’s role in agriculture—and on the dinner table—looks brighter than ever.
