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Intermediate wheatgrass as a dual use crop for grain and grazing
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Kernza is the world’s first commercially available perennial grain that is creating the path forward for perennial grains in agriculture.
Kernza® is the trademark name for the grain produced from the plant intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). The plant is native to western Asia, and this perennial “cousin” of wheat has historically been grown in the US and across the globe to feed livestock. The Land Institute is developing it to serve as a perennial grain source for people and working toward a future that includes multiple varieties of Kernza® that are economical for farmers around the world to produce at a large scale.
Kernza® perennial grain possesses significant potential for markets due to its enticing flavor, noteworthy nutritional profile, and regenerative promise that it offers to cooks and food and beverage makers. Kernza has a unique, nutty flavor and is higher in protein, carotenoids, and other antioxidants compared to annual wheat and is high in dietary fiber. When combined with its promising environmental benefits, Kernza serves as an appealing new ingredient for markets.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant collections system introduced intermediate wheatgrass to the United States.
Researcher Peggy Wagoner selected intermediate wheatgrass as the most promising species for development into a perennial grain crop based on its harvestability, food use potential, and good nutritional profile.
The Land Institute began its intermediate wheatgrass breeding program with seeds from the Big Flats Plant Materials Center. Over the next two decades, The Land Institute’s program would interact with dozens of researchers and collaborate with institutions worldwide.
The Land Institute appointed Lee DeHaan as Lead Scientist for Kernza domestication, establishing a full-time program dedicated to the genetic improvement of intermediate wheatgrass for grain production.
The first water quality research was published, documenting rapid improvements in soil and water quality under Kernza fields relative to wheat. Several more key papers followed over the next decade. Water quality research was vital in encouraging plantings on land vulnerable to nitrate leaching and attracting agency and policy support.
A multi-state Kernza research project led by The Ohio State University began, ultimately providing the first information about grain and forage yields across sites in the US and Canada. This project was instrumental in establishing a network of Kernza sites through collaborations and efforts from multiple institutions.
The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative each launched new commercialization teams and hired full-time staff. As production and demand grew, the commercialization teams became essential to facilitate continued farmer adoption and market development. Shortly after, The first commercial Kernza variety, MN-Clearwater, developed by the University of Minnesota in collaboration with The Land Institute, was released to twelve growers and later licensed to three seed companies, along with a broader release to growers.
A new breakthrough in Kernza breeding from The Land Institute allowed researchers to complete two breeding cycles in one year, effectively doubling the rate of Kernza development toward desirable traits like higher yield.
The Kernza research network is pursuing several crop improvements to ensure that the perennial grain can thrive on landscapes and offer an easy, economically viable switch for farmers.
High-yielding Kernza ensures that we can produce ample food for people while delivering substantial environmental benefits to protect land and conserve natural resources.
The ability for Kernza grain to easily separate from hulls simplifies the harvesting process for growers.
Shatter resistance reduces grain loss by ensuring that seeds don’t separate from the plant before harvest time.
Improving grain quality can support the usage and performance of Kernza in food and beverage.
Researchers are examining the benefit of intercropping Kernza with legume crops to provide nitrogen to soil and reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizer application.
Research is ongoing to amplify the benefits of Kernza as a dual-purpose crop, meaning that it can be grown as forage to feed animals and as a grain crop to feed people.
