Perennial Grains and Oilseeds: Current Status and Future Prospects
Publication: Agriculture
Doug Cattani, perennial grain research partner of The Land Institute from the University of Manitoba in Canada, provided an overview on the role of perennial grains in the future direction of agriculture, highlighting key areas of research and in a new commentary published in the journal Agriculture.
Abstract
The release of cultivars of two perennial grains is a milestone in perennial grain and oilseed development. Agronomic studies can progress by having stable genetics upon which to conduct research. Agriculture has generally committed to enhancing soil health, with perennial grains and oilseeds offering potentially non-animal-related alternatives to our current choices. Utilizing perennial grains and oilseeds offers potential to small-grain producers to improve, or at least maintain, their soil quality as perennial grains generally have little soil disturbance post-seeding. Understanding perennial grain and oilseed development and how they interact with their growth environment will provide us with baselines upon which to gauge agronomic interventions as we attempt to increase productivity without negative environmental impacts.