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Intermediate wheatgrass as a dual use crop for grain and grazing
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As the first commercially available perennial grain on the market, Kernza® perennial grain has sparked the imaginations of many, from farmers to food enthusiasts, bakers to brewers, and conservationists to climate activists. With its 10-foot-long roots that help foster healthy soil, clean water, and biodiversity while removing carbon from the air, there’s much excitement around the potential of this novel experimental grain. Now grown in fifteen states across the US and present in various food and beverage products, Kernza is creating a path forward for perennial grains, providing us with knowledge that we can apply to breed, grow, process, and commercialize future perennial grains in development at The Land Institute and in collaboration with a global research community.
The first large-scale harvest of Kernza took place via combine on a 30-acre farm field in Kansas, producing a semi-truck load of grain and providing proof of concept for Kernza as a new crop.
The first milling of Kernza took place in Kansas at Heartland Mill, and farmer Carmen Fernholz established the first on-farm Kernza planting in Minnesota.
The Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, MN becomes the first restaurant to feature Kernza, with the first item appearing in the form of savory waffles.
Patagonia Provisions launched Long Root Ale, the first packaged Kernza product on the market, marking a major milestone in the Kernza commercialization process and catalyzing consumer and media interest.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded the KernzaCAP project to facilitate collaboration and integration of Kernza knowledge and research across disciplines and institutions along with farmers, businesses, and partners beyond the academic environment.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) formally added perennial grains to a government conservation program, opening the doors for financial support for Kernza growers and national recognition of Kernza as an important tool to promote healthy ecosystems.
The Land Institute and Kernza supplier Sustain-A-Grain launched the first-ever “Kernza for Kansas” during Earth Month in April 2024 to demonstrate what perennial grains can bring to the table as a new staple food crop in the US Central Great Plains. In collaboration with 20 local businesses in 13 cities across Kansas, participants showcased Kernza’s unique flavor and uses in fan-favorite foods and beverages, from flatbreads to desserts to craft beers.
With Kansas, a major wheat-growing state, at the heart of the initiative in the backyard of our home campus in Salina, The Land Institute’s researchers, staff, and partners led and supported multiple events, including Kernza educational experiences, presentations, and community discussions.
This initiative and others like it can serve as a model for further development of Kernza as a novel food in different regions of the US, with an increasing number of businesses driving crop production on more farmland acres and raising questions around how to increase adoption by farmers and more businesses.
Collaborative initiatives like “Kernza for Kansas” that help advance the everyday use of a new perennial grain are now possible after decades of breeding progress accomplished through meticulous data collection and numerous rounds of breeding for the Central Great Plains region by a growing community of researchers. Furthermore, newly developed marketing materials, ingredient and application guidelines, and economic tools will enable businesses to utilize Kernza better and understand how to market products to an ever-growing community of eaters. These foundational activities are crucial in driving early market success for Kernza, increasing adoption and business profitability, and enabling further research of this new sustainable ingredient.
Learn about the most recent progress in Kernza research and commercialization.
Whether you are a Kernza grower, food enjoyer, food or beverage maker, teacher, or simply want to learn more about the larger Kernza network, this perennial grain has its own website dedicated to serving its community with resources, news updates, recipes and more. Explore the Kernza website today to learn about the perennial grain’s history, current impact, and role in transforming agriculture.
