Fonio – The Ancient Grain with Modern Appeal
An incredibly versatile ingredient
Fonio has earned its reputation as a super grain—it’s environmentally friendly, growing in all types of soil, requiring very little water, and takes only three to four months from seeding to harvest. And its versatility as an ingredient—gluten-free, a wide mineral profile, an excellent source of plant-based protein, boasting the full amino acid profile, and cooking in only 5 minutes—has made this ancient grain the talk of modern chefs, food brands and discerning consumers.
For centuries, farmers in the Sahel region of Africa have been cultivating and enjoying fonio, which is pretty amazing when you consider how well-suited organic fonio is to today’s health-conscious consumer.
Terra Ingredients is currently the only company able to supply fonio at significant volume and scale. Discover the details of the innovation and ethical commitment behind our premium quality fonio.
Who Can Benefit from Fonio?
Fonio’s unique combination of gourmet appeal and sustainability can help food brands create unique products that will delight today’s healthy and conscientious consumers.
Fonio can provide the exciting, exotic twist to your menu that sophisticated diners are always hungry for – everything from a side dish to a savory main course. And with a cook time of only five minutes, fonio is remarkably convenient.
Fonio offers a remarkable range of nutritional benefits while also appealing to discriminating tastes. Consumers can also feel great that it’s sustainably produced and processed to the highest food safety standards.
THE Super Grain
There’s a good reason there is so much buzz around fonio. This ancient grain is incredibly versatile, which makes it an ideal ingredient, whether in its raw form or as an exciting element in any number of prepared foods or baked goods.
Sustainable Sourcing
Our relationships with small-scale growers in the fonio belt allows us to source organic fonio in a sustainable and ethical way.
Equally important is the knowledge that when you buy fonio from Terra Ingredients, you buy directly from the source. This also enhances the grain’s traceability, which is vital for Terra Ingredients and our valued customers.
In all, it’s the kind of success story many companies only dream of: a partnership to bring an in-demand, sustainable, fair trade grain to the wider world while providing local farmers with access to export markets in the U.S. In this way, these farmers and these communities literally reap the benefits of fonio, enjoying meaningful quality-of-life improvements.
The Terra Way
Committed to cultivating a better organic food system.
As a pioneer in the organic food movement, Terra Ingredients by AgMotion is a tireless innovator, working to cultivate a better organic food system. We are committed to protecting the safety and security of food and feed ingredients for our partners around the world.
Through our strategic partnership with Stone Mill – an industry leader in purifying raw agricultural commodities for the finest food-grade products – we have made a huge leap forward in realizing a more seamless supply chain. Our combined services of processing, sourcing, and merchandising gives our customers the convince and confidence of a wholly-integrated, farm-to-FSMA ingredient provider.
The Only Large Volume Fonio Supplier
As we mentioned above, Terra Ingredients is currently the only company able to supply fonio at significant volume and scale, and our sourcing capabilities and facilities allow us to hold inventory that’s ready to ship when you need it.
To handle these challenges of production, we worked with CAA, our family-owned strategic partner, to build a modern processing facility in Dakar, Senegal for processing and dehulling. Here in the US, we work with Stone Mill, our GFSI-certified affiliate, where they conduct final processing. Completed with a chemical-free, 5-log microbial reduction process, our organic fonio is a super grain with full traceability and the highest possible standards for quality and food safety.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re a consumer food brand, R&D manager or a restaurateur, we believe that fonio can augment your brand and company. To learn more about fonio, meet our team and/or place an order, give us a call or fill out a simple form and our team will reach out as soon as possible.
Customer Case Studies
Laura Hansen, VP of Supply Chain at RahrBSG
“As we delved deeper into Terra’s operations, we were impressed by their commitment to environmental stewardship and social impact. Their innovative techniques in fonio cultivation not only enhance the grain’s quality but also promote biodiversity and support local communities. This partnership with Terra represents a significant step forward in our mission to foster sustainable practices within the brewing industry and aligns with RahrBSG’s goals.”
Alan Mahon, Founder at Brewgooder
“With fonio, we saw the chance to brew a beer with purpose—from the grain up. Partnering with Terra Ingredients meant working with a supply chain that’s not just transparent, but transformational.”
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