Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) is one of the oldest cereals, and its domestication in China dates to over 10000 years ago. Foxtail millet grain is used for human consumption and as feed for poultry and cage birds. The husked grain is used as food in Asia, south-eastern Europe and Africa. The Key descriptors for foxtail millet consist of an initial minimum set of characterization and evaluation descriptors for Setaria italica and Setaria pumila of the family Poaceae. This strategic set aims at facilitating access to and utilization of these species, and it does not exclude the addition of other descriptors later. The key set of access and utilization descriptors was defined through an online survey in which 29 experts from 20 organizations and universities from 13 countries participated. Survey results were subsequently validated in consultation with a Core Advisory Group (see “Contributors”) led by ICAR-IIMR, ICAR-NBPGR and ICRISAT. The strategic set of data standards is designed to facilitate access to and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The list is expected to support studies focusing on genetic and morphological diversity of foxtail millet and its wild and weedy relatives, as well those on conservation, domestication and use.