A vision and roadmap for the next generation of agricultural systems

Perennial Grains Working Group

The perennial grains working group’s primary goal is to develop commercially viable perennial food and feed grains that will replace annual crops in the Mississippi River Watershed. Keys to achieving this goal are: 1) plant breeding; 2) agronomic research; and 3) product development and marketing. The plant breeding process required to develop successful perennial grain crops is an essential component but requires decades of work to fully achieve the working group’s broader aim. There are, however, achievable short-term objectives.

Meeting the demand for grains through perennials will require the development of perennial versions of wheat, sorghum, sunflower and corn. Five core perennial grain programs that have relevance to the Upper MRB are well established: 1) wheatgrass, 2) perennial wheat, 3) perennial sunflower, 4) Illinois bundleflower, 5) perennial sorghum. Some work on other potential perennial grains such as perennial flax and chickpeas is ongoing.

How this group will begin to do so is to: 1) coordinate electronic and/or tele-conference meetings with each perennial grain research program in the GLBW area; 2) sponsor an annual or biennial perennial grain conference; 3) develop an interactive “Wiki” website on which plant breeding, agronomic and ecological information relevant to perennial grain crops will be posted; 3) expand on-farm research of intermediate wheatgrass, the perennial grain with the greatest immediate commercial potential; 4) identify a food or feed company such as a flour milling company with interests in developing a perennial product and; 5) serve as an information clearinghouse and collaboration coordinator to help all interested perennial grain research programs identify funding programs, develop suitable proposals and integrate their work with the wider efforts of GLBW.

For more information about this working group and/or to become a partner, please contact Jerry Glover, the Land Institute, email glover@landinstitute.org or phone 785-823-5376.

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