[upbeat folk music]
- Inga: The last stop on my trip around the state
was to visit with Valentin Picasso
at the University of Wisconsin Research Farm in Arlington.
Originally from the country of Uruguay,
his work focuses on developing a more sustainable food system
for future generations.
[upbeat acoustic guitar music]
Valentin leads a team of researchers
who've come from all over the world
to conduct research on Kernza
in order to help farmers develop the best ways
to grow and harvest this new perennial crop.
I met with Valentin out in the field
to learn more about what inspires him to do his work.
What are some of the things that you're looking for
when you're out here with your students
and just observing?
What are you looking for?
- Well, the main goal of our research
is to develop management recommendations for farmers
who wanna grow Kernza as a grain and as a forage.
We're trying to answer questions about
when it's optimal to harvest and when it's optimal to plant.
How to increase the grain production,
the seed yield.
- Why is Wisconsin a great place
to be studying crops like this?
- Well, first, Wisconsin has a long tradition
of dairy farms,
which farmers are used to grow forages
and grow grains at the same time.
So there's the knowledge on how to grow a crop for grain
and how to grow a crop for forage.
And so I think Wisconsin has both
the tradition and the future
for developing new crops like this.
- So this seems like one of the perfect plants,
if all goes well.
How does it work into the system with cattle and humans?
- One thing we have to realize
is that humans are grass seed eaters.
We humans have domesticated
wheat and corn and rice and other grains.
And we like eating and drinking the products of grass seeds.
The thing is that those are all annual crops
that we have to plant every year,
with all the consequences that has.
And Kernza really fits very well because it's perennial.
And so we can harvest the grass seed.
We can make beer, we can make bread,
we can make pasta, and at the same time,
we can have a crop that's perennial
and protects the soil.
Kernza is one example of a way
of bringing together food production
and environmental protection.
- Where do you see this going?
'Cause this seems like people
are still, with your help, trying to figure out
is this gonna be something
that we're gonna see along the roads of Wisconsin?
- I certainly hope so.
I think that we are developing a new crop
and not only a new crop, but a new whole food chain,
a whole market chain, right?
And that's why I think it's so exciting
to see how people is interested in growing it.
Everybody is experimenting a little bit right now.
Farmers have a role.
The consumers have a role.
The researchers have a role.
The policies in place have a role.
Everybody has to contribute in order to have systems
that are good for the environment
and good for the people.
Being able to work with a large team of people
to develop a crop that can brings hope,
that can brings a reconciliation
between food production and the environment
really makes me excited and gives me hope for humanity.
- Well, it gives me hope to have folks like you
doing all the legwork on crops like this.
I would love to have you and your team
up to the farm for a meal, if you'd like.
- Absolutely, we will be there. - Well, good.
Well, nice to see you and I'll see you soon.
- Excellent, thank you.
[upbeat folk music]