Perennial Pantry, a Minnesota-based food company championing Kernza perennial grain, released a malting and baking report titled “Malting Kernza Perennial Grain: Assessing Characteristics, Quality, and Flavor of Kernza Malt” that advanced new uses for Kernza by researching the crop’s malting characteristics, malt quality, and malt flavor traits. This research aims to explore the applications of malted Kernza in commercial settings, to establish a robust supply chain for the perennial grain.

Kernza® perennial grain (from improved intermediate wheatgrass), a perennial cousin of wheat that lives for multiple years without replanting, is the first commercially viable perennial grain launched into US markets. It is spearheading the movement toward a regenerative agricultural model that mimics natural ecosystems.

This research project explored Kernza malting as a means to boost the impact, awareness, and use of Kernza among farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, and researchers.

This research was funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Grant Program.