Nigeria has an opportunity to profit from the multi-billion dollar sorghum market as global beer makers are canvassing the increased use of sorghum for brewing.
According to VLB Berlin, a German-based educational institution in the global brew industry, European brewers are looking for more sustainable, affordable, and versatile brewing ingredients and sorghum is becoming an increasingly popular choice compared to barley.
The product is predominantly used by companies producing beverages, breakfast cereals, and confectionery, and a small percentage of the grain is also used as animal feed while its stalks are used to build shelters or fences and as livestock feed.
Data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics showed from the first time since the country’s statistical agency started collating data, Nigeria exported N875 million sorghum seeds in the first quarter of 2023.
At its last pre-annual general meeting media parley, Hans Essaadi, CEO of Nigerian Breweries, said the company had been working with some institutes on trials for sorghum with higher yield varieties in northern Nigeria.
He said that the outcome of the trials was beneficial to farmers, adding that it would be made known soon.
Nigerian Breweries noted that its collaboration with relevant local and international research institutes will expand and improve the quality of sorghum varieties used in its local production.
