Perennial Crops – From Research to the Future of Farming

Perennial crops could become an important part of the future of farming. With deeper root systems and less need for tillage, they can contribute to healthier soils, greater resilience, and reduced climate impact. To put them into practice, research, collaboration, and development across the entire value chain are needed. That is why Axfoundation works with researchers, farmers, and companies to create the conditions for the perennial crops of the future.

At Torsåker Farm, perennial grains such as Kernza are being tested for their potential to contribute to more sustainable farming systems. Photo: Axfoundation.

The Issue

Today’s agriculture faces several challenges. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and declining soil health are placing growing demands on how crops are grown. At the same time, agriculture is dominated by annual crops that require repeated tillage, which can contribute to soil erosion, nutrient losses, and greenhouse gas emissions.

More resilient farming systems require new solutions. But introducing new crops is not only about research and plant breeding. It also requires knowledge about cultivation, enabling regulations, collaboration among stakeholders, and a market that makes it possible to put them into practice.

Perennial crops have the potential to fundamentally change how we grow grains – from a system that is plowed every year to one that builds soil fertility over time.

– Maria Lundesjö, Project Manager, Future Food, Axfoundation

Our Solution

Perennial crops can contribute to more resilient farming systems by complementing today’s agriculture with new ways to use and manage farmland. With deeper, longer-lived root systems, they can improve soil health, reduce the risk of erosion and nutrient losses, and contribute to increased carbon storage in the soil. Because the crops can be harvested for several years, the need for tillage can decrease, as can the use of certain inputs.

Together, these characteristics can strengthen the resilience of agriculture and create new opportunities for a sustainable and competitive farming sector over the long term.

At Torsåker Farm, Axfoundation is also testing the cultivation of perennial crops such as chicory to promote soil health. Photo: Axfoundation.

Our Contribution

Axfoundation takes a long-term approach to creating the conditions for perennial crops to be used in practice. Through field trials, collaboration across research, farming, and business, and value chain development, we test solutions and remove barriers – from cultivation and plant breeding to the market.

Projects

Axfoundation’s work on perennial crops brings together several initiatives that collectively help develop, test, and scale new solutions. Read more about our projects on perennial crops:

Perennial grains – An Agricultural Revolution

Axfoundation works with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) to advance the development of perennial grains. At Torsåker Farm, we create the conditions for long-term field trials where new grains can be developed and evaluated under practical farming conditions.

Perennial Crops – Pathways to Wider Adoption

Axfoundation works to influence the conditions that determine whether perennial grains can move from research to practical cultivation and use. This means identifying barriers, bringing relevant stakeholders together, and fostering dialogue about the changes needed in areas such as regulation, food safety, cultivation, and markets.