Ethiopia's teff grain set to be world's next 'super-food'

DEBRE ZEYT - Under a searing midday sun, a herd of cattle circles atop a pile of golden teff, thrashing the wheat-like grain, a method that has been practised by Ethiopian farmers for centuries.The crop, mostly grown in the Horn of Africa, is a key part of the country's heritage and a crucial food staple, but is also gaining increased interest abroad among health afficionados seeking a nutritious, gluten-free alternative to wheat."Ethiopians are proud of the crop because it is almost our identity," said Solomon Chanyalew, director of the Debre Zeyt Agricultural Research Centre, a teff research hub."But these days, teff is getting global attention," he said.Relatively unknown outside of Ethiopia -- for now -- the cereal is predicted to replace quinoa as the latest global "super-food".But a ban on exports to control price hikes at home has left farmers tied to local consumers, limiting their contribution to growing markets abroad. Read more at http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/653121-ethiopia-s-teff-grain-set-to-be-world-s-next-super-food.html