How Superfood Sorghum is making snacking more sustainable 🌱

From the healthy toddler snacks you keep stocked in your pantry to the mainstay meals you cook for your family, we know  you spend a *LOT* of brain power on the ingredients found in the food you buy and eat on a weekly basis. But have you ever thought about the environmental impact and sustainability scores of the farming practices of those very ingredients? 

Here at Mission MightyMe HQ, we have … and it’s one of the reasons we love our newest nutritious  Nutty Puff ingredient, organic superfood sorghum! Eco-friendly, nutrient-dense and melt-in-your-mouth delicious: check, check, check ✓ ✓ ✓ 

We’re on a mission to end the food allergy epidemic in a way that’s good for kids AND the planet.  Our science-backed snacks set your little ones up for a mighty future, and we believe that includes making the world a better place for future generations! Read on to learn how sorghum is a versatile crop that’s good all around, not only for kids but also this big, beautiful planet  we call home.

[And psst…check out our other blogs to learn more about the Benefits of Sorghum and Why you can feel good about our ingredients!]

Environmental Impacts on Agriculture

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, there are nearly two million farms in the United States. It may be hard to wrap your head around but more than half the nation’s land is used for agricultural production! However, the agriculture sector could be at risk: climate change can affect crops, livestock, soil and water resources, rural communities, and even agricultural workers. There’s also an ongoing cycle at play, as the agriculture industry can emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that can contribute to even more climate change.

Back in 2021, a NASA study also found that global climate change would impact crops within 10 years – affecting the production of maize (corn) and wheat as early as 2030. This change in yields is due to projected increases in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns, and elevated surface carbon dioxide concentrations from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

In the context of these environmental concerns, sorghum offers a bright spot of hope: the ancient grain and powerhouse ingredient has a variety of ecological benefits. The small grain is making a *big* difference – it’s good for humans AND the environment, and that’s a win, win in our book.

Sorghum is truly water-conserving 

Compared to the average crop, sorghum generally uses significantly less water. That makes it a water-efficient crop due to its ability to produce a substantial yield – even with limited water availability. Consider this: a typical crop might require close to 12 inches of water to produce a bushel, while sorghum can produce a bushel with only around 6 inches of water (now that’s a refreshing thought!). According to the Sorghum Checkoff, nationally, 91% of sorghum acres are rain fed – resulting in 1.5 trillion gallons of irrigation water savings per year. Fun fact: the United States is the world’s largest producer of sorghum, ensuring a consistent, reliable supply. By growing sorghum, farmers are contributing more sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture – particularly in areas with challenging growing conditions or an increased need for climate-resilient crops.

We’re seeing green!

Considered an “ancient grain,” sorghum has been largely unchanged by selective breeding over thousands of years (proof once more that nature really is the best designer). This climate and water smart, resource-conserving crop is a friend to water and soil. Here are some other ways that organic sorghum is giving back to Mother Earth:

• Sorghum is a hardy and drought-resistant crop, meaning it can be grown in a wide variety of environments (i.e. different climates, soils, rainfall levels).

• Compared to other grains, it has a much lower water footprint, which helps to conserve precious water supplies and makes it an ideal crop for regions with water scarcity. .

• Sorghum is often grown in rotation with other crops, which helps promote biodiversity.

• Sorghum’s more efficient water usage and lower input requirements reduce the overall environmental costs of production, such as energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Compared to many other crops, sorghum requires less fertilizer and has a deep root system that can help improve soil structure and prevent erosion. 

• Sorghum improves air quality by removing carbon from the atmosphere and safely storing it in the soil.

• Overall, sorghum’s inherent characteristics result in higher performance as a sustainable food ingredient, as well as a bioenergy source.

Stock up that pantry!

It took a lot of taste testing, hard work, trial and error, and research & development to perfect a puff that’s more than 50% nuts + superfood sorghum. Once we had it dialed in, we knew we had to share the upgrade with the world. We hope you and your little ones love them as much as we do! Shop all four flavor varieties of our Clean Label award-winning puffs today, and consider subscribe + save so you never run low.