Is there a PERENNIAL future of agriculture?

Introduction

PERENNIAL will investigate whether a shift from annual to perennial grain crops as the basis for food production is possible, and identify the major opportunities and obstacles for such a “perennial revolution”. Since the Neolithic Revolution, the world food system has been dominated by annual crops (cereals, legumes, and oil seeds) covering 70% of global croplands.

Challenges of Annual Crops

The use of annual plants disrupts agro-ecological processes every season, resulting in:

• Soil erosion
• Nutrient losses
• Greenhouse gas emissions from machinery and soils

The costly practices of managing annuals, including a strong dependence on herbicides and mineral fertilizers, partly explain the high indebtedness and low returns in agriculture.

Opportunities with Perennial Grains

A shift from annual to perennial grains that are planted once and harvested for many consecutive years could revolutionize agriculture and revitalize rural society. This shift could:

1. Solve problems associated with annuals
2. Increase the potential for adaptation to climate change

Advances in plant breeding have shown that a shift to perennials is possible within a few decades, but it would challenge powerful vested interests.

Research Objectives

To investigate the prospects of a perennial revolution, we will:

a) Conduct a systematic critique of the current political economy of agriculture
b) Suggest desirable, viable, and achievable perennial alternatives to annual monocultures
c) Develop a strategy for change

Methodology

We complement social science expertise with that of plant breeding, agro-ecology, soil, and plant science.

Theoretical Frameworks

• Social Fields Theory is applied to study the political economy of agriculture, including the politics of seeds and agrochemicals.
• Soil Health Theory is used to suggest alternatives.
• We then incorporate ecological feedbacks to develop an Agricultural Treadmill Theory and apply Transition Theory to study social change.

Research Methods

Using mixed methods, we will conduct:

• Discourse analysis
• Network analysis
• Modelling at multiple scales including farms, river basins, and jurisdictions.