Food production globally relies on monocultures of annual crop species, which require replanting every year and external inputs, causing soil erosion, climate change, water pollution, and biodiversity loss, and are vulnerable to climate extremes like drought. Perennials provide continuous soil cover and roots, which fix carbon, protect soil health, retain nutrients, reduce inputs, and are more resilient to droughts.
Developing perennial grain and forage systems can transform the relationship between humans and the environment by providing food and ecosystem services. Kernza (Intermediate wheatgrass) is a perennial grass relative of wheat and recently domesticated as a perennial grain and forage crop in North America. Kernza has been tested at farms in Sweden, which has pioneered this research in Europe. Demand for perennial grain food products, like Kernza beer and baked goods, is increasing. Dairy and beef farmers are interested in the high forage production potential from Kernza. As a perennial deep-rooted crop, Kernza is very drought and cold tolerant, which makes it an attractive plant adapted to future Nordic-Baltic conditions under climate change.
However, little is known about the adaptation and productivity of this novel crop in the Nordic and Baltic countries, as well as which agronomic management practices may optimise the grain and forage production. The main objective of this project is to strengthen research collaboration between Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Denmark to explore the adaptation and potential of grain and forage production and quality of Kernza across the Nordic and Baltic region.
Our research will test a range of agronomic management questions including optimal fertilisation, benefits of intercropping with legumes, optimal harvest schedule for forage, soil health benefits, and carbon budget. We will engage an international network of diverse stakeholders including farmers, food industry, advisors, and policymakers to explore the feasibility of this new crop in the region. The productivity and management requirements will be used to assess the climate impact of Kernza production systems as compared to annual cereal production systems, both in terms of grain and forage production, to evaluate the Kernza production systems potential contribution to climate mitigation within the agricultural primary production in the Nordic region of Europe.
