Transforming Agriculture, Perennially
Donate
Kernza ripens in a New 70 breeding plot at The Land Institute.

Kernza® Grain

Kernza® is the trademark name for the grain of an intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) being developed at The Land Institute.

Today, this ecologically beneficial perennial grain has already made its way into the commercial supply chain in small niche markets. We’re working toward a future that includes multiple varieties of Kernza® that are economical for farmers around the world to produce at a large scale.


Why Kernza®?

  • Kernza® grain plants are deeply rooted. The roots can extend 10 feet or more beneath the soil surface, delivering atmospheric carbon to the soil and efficiently taking up nutrients and water.
  • The yield potential of Kernza is rapidly increasing, and after harvest, the remaining leaves and stems can be grazed by cattle.
  • In good conditions, the long, slender Kernza® seed heads can contain more seeds than an annual wheat head. Additionally, with each breeding cycle, researchers work to increase seed size.
  • New varieties of Kernza® grain can enable farmers to grow it profitably at scale and bring its environmental benefits to modern farms and diets.

Intern Madeline DeBois selects Kernza heads for harvest in a breeding plot at The Land Institute. The Institute is developing the wheat-like Kernza as a perennial grain crop.

Ten years after we began to see the potential of Kernza® perennial grain and secured the tradename, there are 100+ farmers producing it on nearly 4,000 acres globally. Ingredient producers, millers, and distributors are helping move grain from farm to market, and consumers are enjoying the great taste of

Kernza® in products and menu items across the U.S. In order to continue this transition from research to farm to plate, we’ve launched a resource that serves as the definitive source of information about growing, accessing, and using Kernza® perennial grain.

For more on how to get Kernza® seed, grain or products, visit: Kernza.org

Helping Grow Perennial Agriculture

Kernza® grain is the first perennial crop from The Land lnstitute’s work to be introduced into the
agriculture and food markets, but our researchers are currently working on others, including perennial wheat, perennial rice, perennial sorghum, and perennial oilseeds, with more to come.

Join us by supporting this work with a donation to The Land Institute.

DONATE

Project Team

Lee DeHaan
Director of Crop Improvement/Lead Scientist, Kernza® Domestication Program

Marty Christians
Research Technician, Kernza®

Sophia Skelly
Upper Midwest Hub Coordinator

Related Content

Lee DeHaan grew up on a conventional corn and soybean farm in Minnesota. His father…

Read More about Interview with Lee DeHaan
Kernza Perennial Wheat Stands

The 2019 Kernza Conference was held July 1-3, 2019 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison,…

Read More about 2019 Kernza Conference Presentations

Related Scientific Publications

Staff at The Land Institute, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, and the University of Minnesota discuss what is required to build developmental frameworks for novel continuous living cover (CLC) crops and…

Read More

A long-term study conducted in the northern Great Plains region of the US indicates that perennial crops such as intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza) may sequester greater amounts of soil carbon and…

Read More
Share On: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Select other ways to share