Farmers Look to Perennial Grains as Climate Change Threatens Crops

Faced with extreme weather conditions that threaten their crops and livelihoods, some farmers are turning to perennial grains as a solution. One such farmer is Bryce Black, who owns a 4,500-acre farm in Kansas and has been affected by drought.

Black's experience is not unique - many farmers around the world face similar challenges due to climate change. Researchers at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas are working on developing perennial versions of common annual grains like wheat, sorghum, and rice.

The institute has been formally domesticating Kernza, a perennial grain similar to native grasses found in Europe and western Asia, since 2001. Kernza is one of several perennial grains under development at the institute, which aims to reduce soil degradation and increase crop yields.