Perennial Grains for Water Quality and Conservation

Food production is dependent on the availability of clean water. Long-rooted perennial grains can absorb excess fertilizer that would otherwise runoff fields to pollute waterways or infiltrate into community water sources. Perennial grain crops can also more effectively utilize water stored in soils to reduce agricultural water use, which is of particular interest in arid environments where water is scarce.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nitrate, which stems from fertilizer use, is the most prevalent chemical pollutant in groundwater aquifers around the globe. In the US specifically, agriculture is the primary source of pollution impacting the nation’s rivers and streams.