A mother feeds her baby fonio porridge in a Beninese village.

Fonio Flour: The Ancient Grain Revolutionizing Baby Food in Benin

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a fonio-based complementary food is enhancing nutrition for young children in Benin and offering a sustainable solution for food security."

Ensuring optimal nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child's life is critical for their long-term physical and cognitive development. As infants grow beyond six months, breast milk alone becomes insufficient to meet their increasing nutritional needs. This is where complementary foods come into play, bridging the nutritional gap and supporting healthy growth.

However, in many developing countries, complementary feeding practices are often inadequate, leading to malnutrition and developmental delays. Common issues include the late or early introduction of complementary foods and the consumption of nutrient-poor, unsanitary options. In Benin, these challenges are reflected in statistics showing that while a significant percentage of infants receive complementary foods, the quality and timing often fall short of recommended guidelines.

Recognizing the urgent need for improved infant nutrition, researchers are exploring the potential of local food resources to create affordable, nutrient-rich complementary foods. One such resource is fonio (Digitaria exilis), an ancient West African grain known for its nutritional benefits and resilience. This article delves into a groundbreaking study conducted in Benin, which focuses on developing and assessing a fonio-based complementary food designed to meet the specific needs of young children.

Why Fonio? Unpacking the Nutritional Powerhouse

A mother feeds her baby fonio porridge in a Beninese village.

Fonio, often hailed as the "seed of the universe," is West Africa's oldest cultivated cereal. Despite its rich history and impressive nutritional profile, fonio remains relatively underutilized. This grain boasts a wealth of essential nutrients, making it an ideal candidate for addressing malnutrition and promoting food security.

The study in Benin aimed to harness the potential of fonio by developing a complementary food that meets the recommended nutritional standards for infants aged 6 to 23 months. Researchers formulated three different fonio-based recipes, carefully considering the appropriate amounts and combinations of ingredients.

Fonio Flour Formulation 1 (Ffo1): Contained 70% fonio, 13% soybean, 16% groundnut, and 1% dried fish.
Fonio Flour Formulation 2 (Ffo2): Featured a modified fonio content of 63%, with 20% soybean, 16% groundnut, and 1% dried fish.
Maize Flour Formulation (FMa+): Served as a control, comprising 70% maize, 13% soybean, 16% groundnut, and 1% dried fish.

These formulations were then subjected to rigorous testing, including physico-chemical analyses, microbiological assessments, and sensory evaluations. The goal was to ensure that the fonio-based complementary food was not only nutritious but also safe and palatable for young children.

The Future of Fonio: A Sustainable Solution for Infant Nutrition

The study successfully developed a fonio-based complementary food that aligns with WHO recommendations for infant nutrition. This innovative approach not only addresses the critical need for improved nutrition among young children in Benin but also promotes the use of local food resources, offering a sustainable solution for food security. While further improvements in micronutrient content, such as iron, are needed, this research paves the way for adapting fonio-based formulations to different agro-ecological zones and tailoring them to the specific nutritional needs of local populations. By harnessing the power of ancient grains like fonio, we can create a brighter, healthier future for children in Benin and beyond.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4314/ijbcs.v11i6.15, Alternate LINK

Title: Formulation De Farine De Fonio Enrichie En Ressources Alimentaires Locales Pour L’Alimentation Complémentaire Des Jeunes Enfants Au Bénin

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences

Publisher: African Journals Online (AJOL)

Authors: Nadia Fanou Fogny, E.M. Yann Madode, F.T. Flora Laleye, Yrence Amoussou-Lokossou, A.P. Polycarpe Kayode

Published: 2018-04-12

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is fonio, and why is it being considered for baby food?

Fonio is an ancient West African grain, scientifically known as Digitaria exilis. It's being explored as a key ingredient in complementary foods designed for infants, particularly in places like Benin. Fonio is significant because it’s packed with essential nutrients and is resilient, making it a strong candidate for improving nutrition and promoting food security in regions where malnutrition is a concern. The implications of using fonio include better infant health outcomes and supporting local agriculture.

What are complementary foods and why are they so important for babies?

Complementary foods are foods given to infants, typically starting around 6 months of age, to bridge the nutritional gap when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient. They are vital for ensuring optimal physical and cognitive development during the first 1,000 days of a child's life. The importance of complementary foods lies in their ability to provide essential nutrients that breast milk may lack, supporting healthy growth and preventing malnutrition. Inadequate complementary feeding practices can lead to developmental delays and health issues.

What are the Fonio Flour Formulations, and why are they so important?

The Fonio Flour Formulations are specific recipes developed to create nutrient-rich complementary foods using fonio as a primary ingredient. In Benin, researchers created formulations such as Ffo1 (70% fonio, 13% soybean, 16% groundnut, and 1% dried fish) and Ffo2 (63% fonio, 20% soybean, 16% groundnut, and 1% dried fish). These formulations are important because they aim to meet the recommended nutritional standards for infants aged 6 to 23 months. By carefully considering the amounts and combinations of ingredients, these formulations can provide a balanced source of nutrients, addressing malnutrition and supporting healthy growth. A maize-based formulation (FMa+) was used as a control for comparison.

What are the WHO recommendations that are referenced, and why do they matter?

The WHO recommendations for infant nutrition outline the guidelines for appropriate feeding practices, including the introduction of complementary foods around 6 months of age. These recommendations stress the importance of nutrient-rich and safe foods to support optimal growth and development. Adhering to WHO guidelines is crucial because it ensures that infants receive the necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition and promote long-term health. These guidelines often serve as benchmarks for evaluating and improving complementary feeding practices in various regions, helping to tailor interventions to meet specific nutritional needs.

What is food security, and why is it significant in the context of infant nutrition?

Food security refers to the availability of and access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It is significant because it ensures that populations have a reliable source of sustenance, reducing the risk of malnutrition and promoting overall well-being. Utilizing local food resources like fonio can enhance food security by providing sustainable and culturally appropriate food options. Addressing food security involves improving agricultural practices, supply chains, and access to markets, ensuring that everyone has consistent access to nutritious food.