Mixed Perennials

The Land Institute works for agriculture to change from annuals grown in large fields of the same plant type to perennials grown as mixed species. more...

Annuals, favored since farming began some 10,000 years ago, require replanting each year. For much of the year they are dead. They lose soil, and waste water and nutrients. Monocultures make easier the loss of crops to predators and disease.

Perennials growing in species mixtures dominate the world's natural ecosystems. Perennials live year-round below ground. They have a running start for the growing season, cover and hold soil better, even adding to it, and more efficiently use water and nutrients. With diversity they better resist spread of pests and disease.

Using gains made in scientific knowledge and ability over the past few decades, Land Institute scientists are breeding the annual crop plants wheat, sorghum and sunflower with wild, perennial relatives. They also are working to domesticate productive perennials, including the high-protein Illinois bundleflower.

Since each recombination of traits and selection takes a plant generation, to achieve productive and genetically stable perennial crop plants for use by farmers is expected to take several decades.

In addition to promoting a "natural systems agriculture," The Land Institute is an advocate for rural community. It sees the former helping the latter, with less reliance on industrial supplies and more value on farmers knowing fields' individual characteristics.

Geneticist Wes Jackson founded the nonprofit institute in 1976 near Salina, Kansas.

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