In South Asia, lack of dietary diversity is one of the key factors behindmalnutrition and the prevalence of non‐communicable diseases suchas diabetes. Small millets, grown as a complement to existing crops,could contribute to an answer. Performing well in marginalenvironments they have superior nutritional properties, including highmicronutrient and dietary fibre content, and low glycemic index. However, there has been a drastic decline in production andconsumption of small millets mainly due to limited productivity, highdrudgery involved in their processing, negative perceptions of small millets as a food for the poor and policy neglect when compared toother crops.Realising the importance of small millets for nutrition security, DHAN Foundation with its partners Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and McGill University have been undertaking research-for-development projects to increase the production and household consumption of small millets since 2011 in two phases.