The Land Institute

Name

The Land Institute

Legal name

The Land Institute

Website

https://landinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Perennial Crop Development

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Crop Rotation & Whole-Farm Cropping Systems Design (AFACABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Perennial grain breeding
• Sustainable agriculture research
• Regenerative cropping systems
• Crop domestication programs
• Soil health innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Salina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: The Land Institute is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations, grants, and philanthropic support. The organization accepts monthly giving, donor-advised fund contributions, legacy/planned gifts, and other forms of charitable giving.
2. Research Grants and Government Funding: Funded by public and private research grants. By 2050, the organization aims to transition 5% of global public and NGO support for agricultural grain research to perennial grains.
3. Kernza Grain Sales and Licensing: Commercial Kernza production through grower contracts generates grain for food and beverage products. The first commercial variety MN-Clearwater was released and licensed to seed companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Land Institute is a nonprofit agricultural research organization that develops perennial grain crops as alternatives to annual grain agriculture. It breeds, domesticates, and licenses six perennial crop programs — Kernza perennial grain, Perennial Sorghum, Perennial Wheat, Perennial Rice, Perennial Baki Bean legume, and Silflower perennial oilseed — and supplies germplasm, agronomic knowledge, and market facilitation to commercial growers, food and beverage manufacturers, and researchers worldwide.

Product overview

The Land Institute is a nonprofit agricultural research organization that develops perennial grain crops as an alternative to annual grain agriculture. The core product portfolio consists of six perennial grain crops: Kernza Perennial Grain (the first commercially available perennial grain from intermediate wheatgrass), Perennial Sorghum (sorghum-Johnsongrass hybrid), Perennial Wheat (wheat-intermediate wheatgrass hybrid), Perennial Baki Bean (sainfoin-derived edible legume), Silflower Perennial Oilseed (sunflower family oilseed), and Perennial Rice (cultivated rice-perennial African rice hybrid). These crops work together as part of a system designed to replace annual grain agriculture with perennial alternatives that build soil health, sequester carbon, reduce erosion, and improve water quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kernza Perennial Grain The world's first commercially available perennial grain, developed from intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) with 10-foot deep roots, up to 96% more nitrate pollution absorption than corn and soy, and 300–1,000 lbs of carbon sequestered per acre per year. Licensed to seed companies including MN-Clearwater (first commercial variety) and used by General Mills/Cascadian Farm, Patagonia Provisions, and Deschutes Brewery.
• Perennial Sorghum A perennial grain developed from a cross between annual grain sorghum and its perennial relative Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), combining the seed yield of annuals with the longevity and resilience of perennials. Genomic prediction methods are being applied in collaboration with the University of Illinois and University of Georgia to enable more efficient breeding strategies.
• Perennial Wheat A hybrid between annual wheat and intermediate wheatgrass (the plant that produces Kernza), created to develop economically viable perennial wheat crops for farmers.
• Perennial Baki Bean (Legume) The trademarked Baki Bean — an edible perennial pulse produced by the sainfoin legume (Onobrychis viciifolia). Sainfoin can convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants, reducing or eliminating the need for synthetic fertilizers. Seeds contain crude protein and fat levels on par with soybean and chickpea.
• Silflower Perennial Oilseed A perennial oilseed plant (Silphium integrifolium) in the sunflower family, native to the Great Plains. Produces oil, supports pollinators, protects soils, and can access groundwater at depths of 4–6 feet, making it drought-tolerant and resilient. Research conducted with partners including Cal Poly and Penn State.
• Perennial Rice A cross between annual cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and a perennial cousin from Africa (Oryza longistaminata), developed through research collaboration with Yunnan University. The 2021 breakthrough achieved high-yielding, long-lived perennial rice with significant sustainability impacts.
• Prairie Festival 2026 Annual Event An annual intellectual and cultural festival celebrating perennial agriculture, featuring keynote speakers, workshops, farm tours, musical performances, and Kernza food and drink experiences. Capacity approximately 1,000 attendees. Marking the organization's 50th anniversary in 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% more nitrate pollution absorbed by Kernza vs. corn and soy
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• General Mills (Cascadian Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025General Mills expanded Kernza incorporation into four Cascadian Farm cereals, quadrupling usage from the initial 2014 research partnership. The initiative involves The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota, creating a stable market for Kernza to support U.S. organic farmers. Products are available at Whole Foods and Sprouts.
• Sol SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Sol Systems completed the Eldorado Solar Project in Illinois - the first agrivoltaic project in Illinois and largest for the company at 354 MW capacity. Uses Kernza grain to support environmental and nutritional goals in the solar-agriculture integration.
• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-hosted the 2025 International Meeting in Texcoco, Mexico - the largest gathering of global perennial grain researchers to date, held at the birthplace of the Green Revolution. Represents the most significant global partnership for advancing perennial agriculture.
• Deschutes BrewerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Deschutes Brewery produced nationally distributed Kernza beer, marking a significant Kernza product milestone alongside Dogfish Head.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Academic research partner developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Researchers at Cornell collaborated on Kernza research including consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay studies for Kernza bread.
• Yunnan University and Researchers in ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Research collaborators in Yunnan, China with support from The Land Institute achieved the perennial rice breakthrough in 2021, documenting high-yielding, long-lived perennial rice with significant environmental, economic, and social sustainability impacts in Nature Sustainability.
• Patagonia ProvisionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Patagonia's food division established first grower contracts for commercial Kernza production in 2014 and launched Long Root Ale beer in 2016 - the first commercial Kernza product. Led Kernza lager pilot project mobilizing craft breweries in 2023-2024.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Longstanding research partnership including the Forever Green Initiative commercialization team. Collaborated on MN-Clearwater Kernza variety development and ongoing market development efforts.
• Sustain-A-GraincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKernza supplier that partnered with The Land Institute for the Kernza for Kansas initiative in 2024, engaging 20 local businesses across 13 Kansas cities to showcase Kernza in food and beverages.
• Rooster MillingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMidwest Kernza Farm to Mill Field Day host in Wisconsin, processing infrastructure partner for the Kernza supply chain alongside Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.
• Michael Fields Agricultural InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisconsin-based agricultural institute hosting Midwest Kernza Farm to Mill Field Day and Kernza community bake events, supporting regional Kernza market development.
• Montana State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Central Great Plains regional network supporting perennial grain crop development.
• University of NebraskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner supporting perennial grain research in the Central Great Plains region.
• Colorado State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in perennial grain research network, including research on silflower and soil ecology.
• The Donald Danforth Plant Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research partner in plant science, collaborating on Global Inventory Project with Missouri Botanical Garden and Saint Louis University.
• USDA Agricultural Research ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research agency partner supporting perennial grain research and development.
• WSU BreadlabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington State University research facility focused on wheat and grain research, collaborating on Kernza consumer and end-use quality research.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner through the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, collaborating on perennial legume breeding and genomic research.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner with Tim Crews having completed PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology there. Ongoing collaboration on Kernza consumer research and willingness-to-pay studies.
• Savanna InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit focused on perennial agriculture and agroforestry in the Midwest, supporting Kernza adoption and market development.
• ISARA-LyonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench agricultural research institute partner in the global perennial grain research network.
• Lund UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish university partner contributing to international perennial grain research efforts.
• Yunnan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese university partner key to the 2021 perennial rice breakthrough research published in Nature Sustainability.
• Missouri Botanical GardencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on Global Inventory Project cataloging wild perennial species for domestication, alongside Saint Louis University.
• Saint Louis UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Global Inventory Project evaluating wild perennial species for grain, legume, and oilseed potential.
• Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed multi-state Kernza research project providing first grain and forage yield information across sites in the US and Canada, instrumental in establishing Kernza research network.
• Coeur d'Alene TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal community partner combining traditional knowledge and climate science research including native grassland restoration and Kernza trials.
• Cal PolyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia Polytechnic State University partner in silflower perennial oilseed research.
• Penn StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania State University partner in perennial oilseed research including silflower studies.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center): Global nonprofit crop improvement research center focused on maize and wheat. Directly comparable as the co-host of the 2025 International Meeting on perennial grains and as a flagship collaborator on Kernza, perennial wheat, and perennial rice breeding programs.
• Savanna Institute: Midwest-focused nonprofit advancing perennial agriculture and agroforestry. Directly comparable mission and stakeholder base, and an existing strategic partner of The Land Institute on Kernza market development.
• Forever Green Initiative (University of Minnesota): University of Minnesota program developing perennial and winter-annual crops. Direct peer in perennial grain research — co-developed the MN-Clearwater Kernza variety and operates a commercialization team parallel to The Land Institute's stewardship function.
• The Rodale Institute: Nonprofit research and education organization advancing regenerative organic agriculture. Closely comparable as a peer nonprofit research model in sustainable agriculture, sharing donor bases, farmer outreach, and policy advocacy channels.
• Michael Fields Agricultural Institute: Wisconsin-based nonprofit advancing regenerative and sustainable agriculture research, education, and market development. Comparable scale and regional focus, and an existing partner co-hosting Midwest Kernza Farm to Mill field days.

Broad incumbents

• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): Larger, globally established crop research center focused on rice. Broad incumbent comparable to The Land Institute's perennial rice program; shares the agricultural-research-for-global-food-security mandate and convenes overlapping scientific networks.
• Rothamsted Research: Long-established UK agricultural research institute with broad crop science and agronomy programs. Comparable as a mature, multi-program public-interest research organization, though not perennial-crop specialized.
• USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Federal in-house research agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An existing research partner on perennial grain development, and a broad incumbent in agricultural science with overlapping crop breeding and sustainability mandates.
• The Nature Conservancy: Large global environmental nonprofit working on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and food systems. Comparable as a broad environmental nonprofit with overlapping climate-agriculture donor base and policy engagement, though not a crop science peer.

Emerging players

• WSU Breadlab: Washington State University research facility focused on wheat quality, breeding, and end-use. Emerging player with overlapping grain research agenda and existing Kernza collaboration on consumer/end-use quality work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/natureasmeasure
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLandInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-land-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Land Institute