Cultivating a Perennial Revolution

For nearly 50 years, a quiet agricultural revolution has been growing in Kansas. Founded in 1976 by Wes and Dana Jackson as “The Land”, The Land Institute near Salina was set up to explore “sustainable alternatives in agriculture, energy, shelter, and waste disposal”[1]. From the start, the Institute aimed to rethink farming by modeling it on the native prairie. As Wes Jackson later described in his landmark book New Roots for Agriculture (1980), the goal was to breed perennial grain crops grown in diverse prairie-like mixtures to “produce food and preserve soil.”[2]. Today that vision is summed up in the Institute’s mission statement: “We’re cultivating a perennial revolution—one seed, one field, one relationship, one story at a time.”[3]. Tammy Kimbler, the Institute’s chief communications officer, is one of the people helping to tell that story to a wider audience.

Tammy explains the basic idea by connecting it to something gardeners already know. “Perennials are like rose bushes that you plant once… it comes back every year, you enjoy the blooms for many years,” she says. “And… the plant stays in place.” In other words, a perennial grain crop could be seeded once and then harvested for multiple years without replanting. That simple shift in planting strategy underlies the Land Institute’s entire mission. As a recent press release noted, “because perennials are planted once and harvested for multiple years, [perennial agriculture] empowers consumers to help keep soil in place and reduce carbon emissions”[4]. In short, perennial grains could break the cycle of annual tilling and planting, holding soil in place and improving sustainability.

The Power of Perennials

Perennial plants live for many years, unlike annuals that must be replanted each season. In practice, this means much deeper root systems and less soil disturbance. The Institute’s “Why Perennial” report explains that perennial grains can build four times the root mass of annual wheat[5]. For example, Kernza® – a perennial grain developed by the Land Institute – routinely grows roots 10 feet deep in trial plots. Tammy jokes that the roots look like “a very robust ZZ Top beard,” and indeed those long roots anchor the soil, preventing erosion. In test fields, Kernza’s roots have been shown to hold soil in place and channel stormwater deep underground. This greatly cuts surface runoff: one study found Kernza fields absorbed 96% more nitrate

pollution than nearby corn or soybean fields[6]. In other words, Kernza acts like a living filter, trapping excess nitrogen that would otherwise wash into streams. Tammy sums it up plainly: “You plant it [Kernza] once, and it regenerates every year… the benefits of that are pretty profound.” She notes that, beyond the grain harvest, “it also does great things for the soil… perennial crops…have the ability to grow very robust root systems.” This provides amazing pathways for water infiltration, so that torrential rains can soak in rather than running off and polluting waterways. The deep roots also uptake excess nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizer[7][8]
[9]. Each silphium plant can be tapped for oil without killing it, adding to fields’ perennial diversity.

These ecosystem benefits extend beyond one crop. By never tilling the soil, perennial systems sequester carbon and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Land Institute ag scientists note that perennial fields require “less greenhouse gas” than conventional cropland because they stay planted year-round[10]. And leaving fields covered also builds biodiversity: Kernza and other perennial blends continually cover the ground, providing habitat for earthworms, insects and wildlife. In short, perennials offer a “whole-system” advantage – combining food production with conservation. They restore soil structure, improve water quality, and can even boost climate resilience for farms, all while yielding a crop each year.

Kernza and Other Perennial Crops

The Land Institute is best known for Kernza®, the world’s first commercially-available perennial grain[11]. Kernza is a domesticated variety of Thinopyrum intermedium (intermediate wheatgrass), a wild grass native to western Asia[12]. Its domestication began in earnest in the early 2000s. In 2001 the Institute formalized its Kernza Domestication Program, collaborating globally to improve the grain[13]. Over the past decade, Kernza has moved from the lab to real fields and products. In 2016 the first Kernza-based consumer product – a beer called Long Root Ale – hit the market, demonstrating the grain’s practical promise[14]. Today a network of growers, researchers, and food producers is building the Kernza supply chain: from specialty breads and pasta to cereals and brews. Notably, General Mills has even begun trialing Kernza in its baking goods to meet sustainability goals[15][4].

Meanwhile, The Land Institute’s plant breeders are spreading the perennial idea to many crops. Perennial wheat, for example, has been in development since 2001. By crossing annual bread wheat with perennial relatives, researchers have produced hybrid lines that survive winter and regrow[16]. Today dozens of new perennial wheat lines are under evaluation around the world (Australia, Italy, etc.)[17]. If successful, perennial wheat – grown on hundreds of millions of acres worldwide – could be a game-changer: it would prevent plowing on vast fields and replace much of conventional wheat with a self-renewing crop[18][2].

The Institute is also domesticating perennial oilseeds. Its star project here is Silphium integrifolium – nicknamed “silflower” – a sunflower relative native to the Great Plains[9]. Silflower has brilliant yellow flowers and seedheads like sunflowers, but unlike annual sunflowers it grows back each year. Importantly, it has deep roots reaching 4–6 feet down[9], making it highly drought-tolerant. It can be tapped for cooking oil or biofuels without replanting. And crucially, silflower fields teem with life: they support native bees, monarch butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinators while protecting soil[9]. The Institute even runs a community science project where citizens help plant and monitor silflower trials, reflecting its participatory approach.

Another expanding program is perennial legumes, aimed at protein pulses. In 2017 the Institute added a legume breeder, and by 2024 it had identified sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) as a top candidate. Their case study highlights the “perennial Baki™ bean” (Baki means “eternal” in Turkish), a herbaceous legume with pink flowers[19][7]. Sainfoin is already grown as forage in Montana and elsewhere, but Land Institute breeders are turning it into an edible pulse crop. It’s high-protein and gluten-free (nutritionally akin to soy or chickpeas), and like alfalfa it fixes nitrogen in the soil[7][20]. Tests show Baki bean can pull enough nitrogen from the air to greatly cut fertilizer needs, and its deep roots give drought and nutrient efficiency[7]. The Institute is collaborating internationally on this – for example, sequencing sainfoin’s genome with partners in Turkey and Alabama[21] – aiming to roll out a scalable perennial bean for temperate regions.

Other candidates are also under study. The Institute has worked on perennial sorghum, intermediate rye and even perennial rice (a high-yield perennial rice line was recently demonstrated in China)[22]. In each case, the vision is the same: a staple food crop that never needs replanting. As one partner scientist put it, developing perennial grains is “a third major agricultural revolution” that could transform food systems[23].

Real-World Impact

Though still emerging crops, perennial grains are already showing measurable benefits on the ground. On the environmental side, studies continue to confirm what the Institute predicts. In a multi-state trial, Kernza consistently reduced nitrate leaching by nearly 95% compared to annual crops[6]. Other research showed Kernza fields retain soil and water far better than winter wheat, prompting agencies to consider these crops for conservation programs[24]. Perennial wheat trials in harsh Kansas winters have demonstrated stable yields and superb erosion control when blended with native grasses. And silflower plots planted even on steep slopes held soil on rugged terrain during heavy rains.

On the farm-economics side, the perennial approach creates new opportunities. Kernza is “dual-use”: a field produces grain for food and forage for livestock in the same year[25]. Farmers gain two products from one planting, spreading their income sources. Likewise, a perennial oilseed can be intercropped with a perennial grain or legume, diversifying yields. The Land Institute has worked closely with growers to refine best practices and seed distribution. Outreach and education – another aspect of Tammy Kimbler’s job – help farmers see how these crops can fit into rotations or niche markets. For example, early-adopter breweries (like Bang Brewing) and food-makers (like Minnesota’s Sturdiwheat baking company) have begun incorporating Kernza into their products to earn a “Perennial Percent™” label[4]. That program, launched in 2024, encourages any food or drink maker to use even 1% perennial grain: it’s “a game-changer for the food industry,” as one Land Institute scientist said, because it allows giant brands to dip their toe into perennial agriculture and support regenerative farming at scale[26].

Communities and partnerships multiply the impact. The Institute actively collaborates with universities (Kansas State, Kansas University, etc.), government labs (USDA research centers), and international centers like CIMMYT. Its researchers serve as wheat and legume scientists at large institutions worldwide. In 2023, for the first time Land Institute staff attended the UN’s COP28 climate summit to promote perennials as a climate solution[27]. In 2025 they co-hosted the world’s largest conference of perennial grain researchers in Mexico[28]. Nobel laureates in agriculture have even called for a “perennial revolution” in farm policy. All this global attention is spurring more funding and trials. On the local side, citizen events like the annual Prairie Festival bring together farmers, artists, poets and scientists to celebrate sustainable farming; the first such festival was held in 1979 as a “holistic” gathering[29]. (In fact, Tammy happily notes that the 2026 Prairie Festival will mark The Land Institute’s 50th anniversary[30] – a real homecoming for staff and supporters.)

A Voice for the Prairie

Central to this story is Tammy Kimbler herself. As the Institute’s Chief Communications Officer, she wears many hats: writer, event organizer, and bridge between the science and everyday people. On paper, she “leads the Communications program, translating ambitious ideas and urgent issues to grow the perennial movement,” and also helps inspire deep personal investment in the Institute’s vision[31]. In practice, Tammy draws on her arts background (theatre and film) to craft narratives and analogies that resonate. Her own voice comes through in interviews: she peppers her conversation with down-to-earth metaphors (“rose bushes”), enthusiastic sounds (“Wow,” “Yeah!”), and even jokes about bandleaders (ZZ Top’s signature beard) to describe roots. Yet she balances this warmth with accuracy, constantly tying stories back to solid science. For example, when asked about the Land Institute’s mission, Tammy recounts how Wes Jackson was inspired by Kansas’s Konza Prairie – “a perennial system that didn’t need fertilizer,” surviving wind and rain year after year – and how that insight led to reimagining agriculture[2][5].

Tammy also actively helps communities engage. She oversees the Institute’s outreach on social media and at events, and even manages fundraising. For instance, she led the launch of the new Perennial Percent labeling program[4], working with food brands and advocacy groups. She often speaks to non-specialist audiences (Kansas neighbors, back-to-the-land groups, even schoolchildren) to explain perennial crops. In her Minnesota home state, she helped form a Prairie restoration coalition and pitched in to plant perennial forage. Locally, she organizes Kansas events – like farmer field days and the upcoming 2026 Prairie Festival – to showcase research fields and innovative food products. As Tammy puts it, “We want to… honor our first 50 years and then really think about what it will take to do the kinds of transformative agricultural change… in the future.” Those words – echoing the Institute’s long view – show her forward focus.

Looking Ahead: A Perennial Decade

Over the next 5–10 years, the Land Institute and its allies plan to deepen the perennial roots in our food system. Regionally, Tammy sees the Central Great Plains as ground zero – reinforcing Kansas as a perennial research hub while also supporting farmers nationwide who experiment with new crops. Nationally, initiatives like Perennial Percent aim to bring consumer markets on board: for example, Minnesota’s Sturdiwheat has pledged to add the Perennial Percent™ label to its entire line of baking mixes, leveraging its Kernza products to promote soil-friendly ingredients[32]. More broadly, the Institute will continue collaborating globally – whether that’s co-breeding wheat varieties in Europe, advancing perennial rice with partners in Asia, or helping Latin American scientists explore perennial sorghum. Grants are coming in to study the carbon-sequestration potential of Kernza and to test perennial cropping in Africa and South America.

Crucially, Tammy emphasizes that the next steps aren’t just technical. Perennial farming also requires cultural and economic shifts. The Institute is investing in education: teaching school kids about soil health, showing chefs how to cook with ancient grains, and supporting local farmers’ markets that highlight Kernza bread and Baki bean hummus. Community outreach – through films, festival performances, and “participatory science” projects – is core to building a movement. “Understanding the value of where your food comes from,” Tammy says, is key to change. In that spirit, every new product with the Perennial Percent label or every farmer trying Kernza is a step toward the Institute’s vision.

In sum, The Land Institute has grown into a global network of scientists, farmers and citizens, all working toward a simple but profound goal: transform agriculture to be more like nature. The organization’s history – from its humble windmill-days in Salina to hosting international climate conferences – shows steady progress. “We’re really hopeful for the future,” Tammy tells us, echoing the Institute’s optimism. With ongoing research, new perennial crops on the rise, and the countdown to Prairie Festival 2026 underway[30], that hope is turning into action. By planting the idea of perennials in our fields and plates, Tammy and The Land Institute are aiming to cultivate a more sustainable, resilient farming system – for Kansas, the nation, and the world.

Sources: Information is drawn from The Land Institute’s official publications and website[3][1][2][6][9][7][31][4][30], as well as from a Kansas City Thrive interview with Tammy Kimbler.

[1] [2] [3] [13] [14] [22] [27] [28] [29] Pioneering Sustainable Farming Innovations - Learn More

https://landinstitute.org/about-us/

[4] [26] [32] The Land Institute Launches Perennial Percent™ Label to Increase Perennial Grain Adoption - The Land Institute

https://landinstitute.org/news/the-land-institute-launches-perennial-percent-label-to-increase-perennial-grain-adoption/

[5] Perennial Grains Revolution - Why is it Good? Learn More

https://landinstitute.org/why-perennial/

[6] [8] [11] [12] [24] Kernza: Innovating Sustainable Farming - Explore Now

https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/kernza/

[7] [19] [21] New pulse crop in perennial Baki™ bean - The Land Institute

https://landinstitute.org/learn/case-study-2024/

[9] Perennial Oilseeds - Revolutionize Agriculture Today

https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/perennial-oilseeds/