General Mills and The Land Institute report promising restorative benefits of Kernza to farms

Cascadian Farm and its parent company General Mills announced that their work with The Land Institute (TLI) to help commercialise organic Kernza, a perennial grain (intermediate wheatgrass) and wild relative of annual wheat, has shown promise to boost soil health, carbon sequestration and water retention.

This nutty-tasting grain serves as an ingredient for cereal and snacks.

Cascadian Farm has agreed to purchase an initial amount of the perennial grain, which enables TLI to arrange with farmers to plant on commercial-scale fields as against the test sized plots currently being grown.

Cascadian Farm vice-president Carla Vernón said: "From our earliest days, Cascadian Farm has had a deep commitment to creating a positive relationship between food and the land where it is grown.

“Now, 45 years since our inception, we are excited to incorporate the perennial grain Kernza into our foods and our organic farming. We believe in the potential of this grain to make a positive ecological impact.

“And, this helps us live up to the expectation that our consumers have for Cascadian Farm and continue to be a pioneer in organic farming and land stewardship.”

In addition, General Mills has granted a $500,000 as charitable contribution to the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota in partnership with The Land Institute, to support advanced research to measure the potential of Kernza to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production.

This study will also determine best management practices for sustainable production, and increase Kernza yields through breeding.

General Mills has been working with The Land Institute and University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences since 2014 to study the viability of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as an earth-friendly, more sustainable grain.

Kernza’s roots grow more than twice as deep and are greater in density than current annual wheat roots.

Farmers who produce Kernza do not need to till and replant the crop every year, thereby reducing disruption to the soil.

Early study indicates Kernza's long roots may help preserve soil, enhance soil health, and reduce nitrogen movement into ground and surface waters.

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Image: Cascadian Farm to work with TLI for commercialising Kernza perennial grain. Photo courtesy of General Mills / PR Newswire.