面对日益严峻的气候挑战，美国堪萨斯州农民开始探索种植多年生谷物作为适应极端天气的解决方案。1农民Bryce Black的冬小麦在干旱中损失惨重，1800英亩的冬小麦仅收割了1500英亩，创下他自2017年接手农场以来的产量新低。1这一困境促使越来越多农民将目光转向Kernza等多年生作物，这类作物无需每年重新耕作，其深根系统能更好地抵御干旱和洪水，同时有助于减少碳排放。1
多年生谷物虽然具有生态优势，但其商业化推广仍面临重重阻碍。1农民David Mueller自2018年以来已种植近100英亩Kernza，使用的肥料约为小麦所需的三分之一，1但Kernza农民的产量仅为该地区小麦产量的20%-40%。1虽然Mueller通过Sustain-a-Grain以固定价格出售Kernza，价格有时是小麦价格的5-10倍，1但市场认知度仍然不足。Aaron Gaeddert运营的Prairie已在货架上放了3-4年的Kernza产品，许多常客仍对其缺乏了解。1
目前，美国多年生谷物的种植规模极其有限。1去年Kernza在美国的种植面积仅为3511英亩（1421公顷），相比之下冬小麦、春小麦和硬粒小麦在2025-26年的种植或收割面积达到3720万英亩（1510万公顷）。12024年联合国报告警示，若土壤持续退化，到2050年可能导致全球经济损失超过20万亿美元，1这为多年生谷物的推广提供了紧迫的现实背景。
Faced with intensifying drought and other severe weather conditions, farmers in Kansas are experimenting with perennial grain crops such as Kernza to build resilience into their operations.1 Unlike annual crops that require replanting each season, perennial grains feature deep root systems that better withstand both drought and flooding while reducing carbon emissions.1 However, these crops face significant obstacles, including lower yields, harvesting difficulties, and an underdeveloped market, with only about 3,511 acres planted across the United States last year compared to 372 million acres of conventional wheat varieties projected for the 2025-26 season.1
The urgency of finding alternative crops is underscored by the challenges farmers already face. Bryce Black's winter wheat operation suffered severe losses during recent drought conditions, with only 1,500 of his 1,800 acres producing a viable harvest—the worst result since he took over the farm in 2017.1 A 2024 United Nations report warns that soil degradation could cost the global economy more than $20 trillion by 2050, adding weight to arguments for agricultural innovation.1
Some farmers pursuing perennial grains are finding economic viability despite production constraints. David Mueller has cultivated nearly 100 acres of Kernza since 2018, using roughly one-third the fertilizer required for wheat production.1 Though Kernza yields only 20 to 40 percent of the region's typical wheat output, Mueller sells his crop through Sustain-a-Grain at a fixed price sometimes five to ten times higher than wheat prices.1 Yet consumer adoption remains slow; Aaron Gaeddert, who operates Prairie, has stocked Kernza products on shelves for three to four years, but many regular customers remain unfamiliar with the crop.1
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