ANAHEIM, Calif., March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cascadian
Farm, a pioneer in the organic food movement, and parent company
General Mills today announced their work with The Land Institute
(TLI) to help commercialize organic Kernza®, a perennial grain
(intermediate wheatgrass) and wild relative of annual wheat, whose
deep roots show promise to increase soil health, carbon
sequestration, water retention and enhance surrounding wildlife
habitat. The sweet- and nutty-tasting grain lends itself
particularly well as an ingredient for cereal and snacks.
Cascadian Farm has agreed to purchase an initial amount of the
perennial grain which allows TLI to arrange with farmers to plant
on commercial-scale fields versus the test sized plots currently
being grown.
"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," said Carla Vernón, Vice President of
Cascadian Farm. "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 approved a $500,000 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
significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with food
production, determine best management practices for sustainable
production, and increase Kernza yields through breeding.
Since 2014, General Mills has worked alongside The Land
Institute and University of Minnesota's College of Food,
Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences to research the
viability of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass as an earth-friendly,
more sustainable grain. Kernza is unique in that its roots grow
more than twice as deep (upwards of 10 feet) and are greater in
density than current annual wheat roots. As a perennial, farmers
who produce Kernza don't need to till and replant the crop every
year, minimizing disruption to the soil. Early research shows
Kernza's long roots may help preserve soil, enhance soil health,
and reduce nitrogen movement into ground and surface waters.
"Research has demonstrated that the ecological benefits of
Kernza perennial grain for agricultural systems are remarkable,"
said Dr. Lee DeHaan, Lead Scientist
at The Land Institute. "The length, size, and long life of the
roots enable the grain to provide measurable soil health benefits
and drought resistance while preventing soil erosion and storing
critical nutrients – potentially turning agriculture into a
soil-forming ecosystem. This partnership with General Mills and
investment by Cascadian Farm, promises to be a significant boost,
helping take this planet-friendly grain to the next level of
viability as a food ingredient. Additionally we anticipate it
will allow researchers to more precisely measure the impact of
widespread Kernza perennial grain cultivation on carbon
sequestration."
Cascadian Farm has reserved an initial amount of Kernza
perennial grain seed and plans to plant an acre test plot this fall
on the Cascadian Farm home farm next to the Skagit River in
Washington. The farm team will
closely monitor and research how the grain fares in the unique
temperate rainforest ecosystem in partnership with The Land
Institute.
"Incorporating winter annual and perennial crops such as
intermediate wheatgrass into agricultural landscapes offers
progress towards water quality goals," said Dr. Brian Buhr, Dean of the University of Minnesota's College of Food,
Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences. "Support from
General Mills is an example of a university – industry partnership
that can help translate research into commercial application that
in turn helps develop markets to spur further advancement in crops
for both food use and ecosystem improvement."
Cascadian Farm joined General Mills in 2000 as the company's
first organic brand. Cascadian Farm has a history of leading the
company's corporate sustainability efforts, and was recently one of
50 product brands to endorse Carbon Underground's guidelines for
"Regenerative Agriculture" to further the brand's commitment to
soil health by supporting farming practices that have a positive
impact. Other General Mills' brands who endorsed the
guidelines include Annie's and Epic.
General Mills is showcasing the company's natural and organic
brands at Natural Products Expo West 2017 March 8-12 in Booth 3846.
The University of Minnesota's
Forever Green Initiative
The University
of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative (UMFGI) mission is
to diversify economic opportunities for Minnesota's farmers through the production of
new sources of food, feed, and high-value biomaterials without
interfering with current annual production systems. Teams of
faculty working on breeding, agronomics, ecology, food science and
economics are developing new crops such as intermediate wheatgrass
(Kernza®) to improve vital land and water resources; and, enable
abundant grain production despite climate variability and new pest
pressures. The new Forever Green crops will enhance rural
communities by creating new industries and employment opportunities
based on renewable agriculture resources. Visit
forevergreen.umn.edu to learn more.
The Land Institute
The Land Institute is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization based in Salina, Kansas, that was founded
in 1976. The Land Institute's work, led by a team of agronomists
and ecologists in multiple partnerships worldwide, is focused on
developing perennial grains, pulses and oilseed bearing plants to
be grown in ecologically intensified, diverse crop mixtures known
as perennial polycultures. The Institute's goal is to create an
agriculture system that mimics natural systems in order to produce
ample food and reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of
industrial agriculture. Visit landinstitute.org to learn more.
About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global
food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its
brands include Cascadian Farm, Cheerios, Annie's,
Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso,
Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more.
Headquartered in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2016 worldwide
sales of US $17.6 billion, including
the company's US $1.0 billion
proportionate share of joint-venture net sales. For more
information about General Mills, visit www.generalmills.com.
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SOURCE General Mills