Bryce Black, a fourth-generation farmer in the U.S. state of Kansas, has watched drought damage much of his winter wheat. His harvest fell to the lowest level since he took over the family farm in 2017. "I'm in survival mode," he said. When extreme weather strikes, farmers often search for new ways to protect their crops and their income.

A small number of farmers are now growing perennial grains, which are planted only once every few years rather than every season. Their roots reach deep underground, so they can find water during drought and soak up heavy rain that would otherwise wash away the soil. These roots also store carbon, which reduces pollution and keeps the land healthy for future crops.

Kernza is the perennial grain that is furthest along in development. It has been developed at The Land Institute, a research center in Kansas that also works on perennial versions of rice and sorghum. Adoption remains very small, however: in 2025, American farmers grew Kernza on 1,421 hectares, compared with 15.1 million hectares of wheat in the 2025 to 2026 season.

Serious problems remain. Perennial varieties produce far less grain than annual crops and are harder to harvest. The market is also still small. Even so, because the grain is rare, farmers who grow Kernza can earn a much higher price, and some expect interest to rise as the climate keeps changing.