Kernza is a perennial wheat relative that grows massive underground roots down to 10-15 ft that are also thicker than wheat. It is a form of intermediate wheatgrass. Kernza is the trade name. Being perennial allows it to avoid replanting and all the energy-intensive parts of that. It also reduces soil erosion, not only by anchoring the soil with its extensive roots but also by avoiding or significantly reducing the need for tilling or disking, which can increase soil erosion.
The Land Institute in
Salinas, Kansas, is the namer and one of the main developers of varieties of
Kernza for the food and beverage industry. It describes the grain as follows:
“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’s deep roots also make it very drought-tolerant. At the same time, its big root system can use up excess water when it is available. It is said to have a “unique, nutty flavor and is higher in protein, carotenoids, and other antioxidants compared to annual wheat and is high in dietary fiber.” Its big and deep roots also help it to mitigate nutrient leaching into groundwater, including nitrates from manure or synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.
It is being bought and used
for baking and as a grain for brewing beer. I remember a few years back, a
local pizza place was offering it as a specialty pizza dough, but I think it
was a little higher priced. I have yet to, but would like to try it.
The Land Institute notes that
Kernza was first introduced to the U.S. in 1932, coming from the Maikop region
along the Caspian Sea in the former USSR, as an intermediate wheatgrass.
Breeding efforts began in 1984. In the 1980s, it was sourced from the Black Sea
region. Researchers at the USDA and Rodale
Institute began breeding in 1988, selecting for traits such as improved
fertility and seed size. The Land Institute began working with it in 2003.
According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison:
“The first Kernza perennial grain variety was released
in 2019 by University of Minnesota and is named MN-Clearwater. Five other
varieties were released in 2022 for a total of six approved varieties on the
market today. Today, Kernza is an emerging crop that is being grown on a small
scale for niche markets. As the genetics and agronomic understanding of the
crop improve, the goal is for Kernza to be widely grown throughout the northern
United States and around the world.”
Growers also like the fact
that Kernza is free threshing, which means it is easily separated from the
hulls, leading to cheaper and less complicated processing. It also has shatter
resistance, which means that the grain doesn’t fall out heavily before and
during harvesting. Experiments are ongoing on intercropping Kernza with legumes
to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer. Kernza also remains in use as
animal fodder. However, the newer varieties are designed for humans.
Kernza is at the forefront of
perennial agriculture, which has a better conservation profile than annual
agriculture. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has been
working with Kernza since the 1980s. It grows it in different areas and
climates and gives data to breeders. It also evaluates how it benefits farmers,
consumers, and the environment. ARS scientist Peter Kleinman notes:
“As a perennial crop, intermediate wheatgrass requires
fewer resources to farm over time compared to annual crops. It maintains a
living cover, providing consistent protection of the soil surface and offering
habitat for grassland species. Its deep roots can efficiently recover nutrient
and water resources from the soil, and may also lead to greater soil carbon
storage over the long run. In Minnesota, intermediate wheatgrass has even been
found to efficiently scavenge nitrate from groundwater, highlighting its
potential to protect water quality, such as in the state's wellhead protection
programs.”
“In addition, newly-planted crops are extremely
vulnerable to climatic stresses, so the perennial nature of intermediate
wheatgrass is a means of adding resilience to cropping systems. Researchers are
testing a major hypothesis that intermediate wheatgrass may be able to better
acquire water and nutrient resources from soils than annual cereal crops,
helping it during periods of drought.”
The main drawback of Kernza
compared to wheat and other cereal crops is its low yield. Yields could be
improved in the future, but Kernza is unlikely to take much market share from
wheat in the near future, if ever. Still, the cumulative benefits make it
well-liked by some farmers. Its full breeding development is likely to take
time.
“Currently, grain yields are low and markets are
limited; farmers need to be motivated by more than profit to adopt it. Often,
perceived conservation benefits are a major motivation for growing intermediate
wheatgrass. These include potential for water conservation in areas where water
availability is declining.”
This makes me wonder about
the potential biotech or CRISPR innovations in its breeding. The Land Institute
is also working on testing perennial versions of wheat, rice, legumes, and oil
crops. Such breeding is time-intensive.
References:
Kernza®
perennial grain: Kernza is the world’s first commercially available perennial
grain that is creating the path forward for perennial grains in agriculture.
The Land Institute. Kernza:
Innovating Sustainable Farming - Explore Now
Kernza.
University of Wisconsin. Crops and Soils. Division of Extension. Kernza – Crops and
Soils
Kernza®
and Intermediate Wheatgrass: The Plant That Keeps on Giving: Peter Kleinman.
USDA, Agricultural Research Service. Last Modified: January 10 2025. Kernza®
and Intermediate Wheatgrass: The Plant That Keeps on Giving : USDA ARS
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