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Intermediate wheatgrass as a dual use crop for grain and grazing
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We collaborate with farmers, scientists, and the plants themselves to develop perennial grain crop innovations that help reverse agriculture’s contribution to climate change and strengthen farming’s climate resilience.
Today, more soil carbon is released into the atmosphere than is stored in the soil, contributing to our changing climate. Since humans began farming 10,000 years ago, we have lost about 35 billion metric tons of carbon from the soil, equivalent to 3-4 years of global fossil fuel emissions. Certain land use practices like deforestation and tilling farmland lead to soil erosion and the destruction of plant and root communities, releasing soil carbon into the atmosphere and degrading healthy soil ecosystems.
Soil is one of the world’s most significant carbon sinks—almost 80% of carbon found on land is stored in soils. However, if managed improperly, soil can become a carbon source, contributing to global heating and climate change.
Soil carbon forms through the interactions of plant photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition and is deposited during the growth and decay of plant roots. When plant roots transfer carbon-enriched compounds to soil microbes in exchange for other nutrients, soil microbes break down organic matter. Some carbon dioxide is sent back into the atmosphere, while some is fixed in the soil as humus.
Planting perennial grain crops with strong root systems that thrive in the soil for many years presents an exciting opportunity for agriculture to address climate change and adapt to its challenges, such as extreme weather and drought. These remarkable crops not only have the potential to capture and store significant amounts of carbon but also maximize nitrogen use, manage water resources more effectively, and lessen farmers’ reliance on fossil fuels.
Inspired by the resilience of native perennial ecosystems, these perennial grains show tremendous promise in combating climate change. They actively draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. By utilizing nitrogen more efficiently, they help mitigate the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. One of the most impressive features of perennial grains is their ability to grow continuously in place, establishing deep roots that remain undisturbed by traditional plowing. This promotes soil health by building carbon and allowing crops to access nutrients and water year-round.
Moreover, perennial grains can play a crucial role in helping us adapt to the changing climate. In regions where rainfall is expected to become more erratic—with intense storms followed by dry spells—these resilient crops can capture and store more water in the soil, enhancing its availability during drier weather. By eliminating the need for annual planting, perennial grains empower farmers to depend less on the unpredictable timing of rains, improving their chances for a successful harvest.
The benefits extend even further, as perennial grains can significantly reduce the energy, labor, inputs, and costs generally associated with farming. For example, over 99% of the energy farmers use to grow corn in the US Midwest comes from fossil fuels. Transitioning to perennial crops not only minimizes the need for annual planting but also leads to better nutrient and water retention. Once established, perennial grains naturally suppress weeds and decrease the need for tillage, tractor use, fertilizers, herbicides, and irrigation. In areas where farming relies on human labor or animal power, the lower energy requirements for perennial grains will ease the burden on farmers.
Perennial agriculture can help create a future in which diverse, perennial crops cover our farmlands, rebuilding healthy soil, adapting to the changing climate, and creating abundant food and economic growth for farmers and their communities.
Soil carbon scientists are actively researching how much additional carbon Kernza® perennial grain crops can sequester following conversion from an annual grain crop in different geographies. Kernza® Carbon Planner is a new estimation platform for farmers, food and beverage producers, and policymakers to project reliable, scientifically-backed soil carbon sequestration modeling data for Kernza® perennial grain.
