The Importance of Transdisciplinary Research in the Development of Perennial Crops

This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.

Aubrey Streit Krug is the Director of the Perennial Cultures Lab at the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. The Land Institute is a nonprofit and one of the global leaders in sustainable agriculture research and education. Aubrey grew up in a small town in Kansas where her parents farm wheat and raise cattle. She is a writer, teacher, and researcher who studies stories of relationships between humans and plants. 

Aubrey gives us a crash course in understanding the perennial grain ecosystem, its history, the research behind how to develop new crops, and the labor needs to sustain production. We also cover the education required to introduce new crops for human consumption, equity considerations on access to crops, and why the ability to grow grains year-round is key to sustaining global food stability. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• [03:03]: Aubrey's background and connection to farming
• [05:27]: Her interest in community and diverse perspectives in agriculture
• [07:19]: The semi-arid grassland ecosystem of the Great Plains
• [08:28]: The Land Institute's focus on developing sustainable alternatives, including perennial grain crops
• [12:26]: Paradigm shifts in food and agriculture throughout human history 
• [15:00]: The need to undergo another paradigm shift, from annual grain crops to diverse perennials 
• [17:45]: Two pathways to creating perennial crops: hybridization and domestication 
• [22:21]: Domestication as a process of human co-evolution and interdependence with plants 
• [23:41]: Perennial rice and Kernza perennial grain success stories
• [27:07]: The diverse skilled labor roles needed to sustain perennial grain agriculture
• [29:55]: Ensuring just and equitable distribution of perennial crops with inclusive research processes 
• [32:11]: The Land Institute's civic science program and community participation
• [35:17]: Challenges posed by climate change and the need for resilient agricultural systems
• [37:27]: What gives Aubrey hope and joy 

Resources Mentioned:

• The next era of crop domestication starts now

Get connected: 
Aubrey Twitter /The Land Institute Twitter
Yin Twitter / LinkedIn
MCJ Podcast / Collective

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Episode recorded on May 4, 2023 (Published on Jul 20, 2023)

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant