PERENNIAL · Is there a PERENNIAL future of agriculture?

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. The use of annual plants disrupts agro-ecological processes every season, resulting in soil erosion, nutrient losses, and greenhouse gas emissions from machinery and soils. The costly practices of managing annuals, including a strong dependence on herbicides and mineral fertilisers, partly explain the high indebtedness and low returns in agriculture. A shift from annual to perennial grains that are planted once and harvested for many consecutive years, could revolutionise agriculture and revitalise rural society. It could solve problems associated with annuals and 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. 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, and c) develop a strategy for change. We complement social science expertise with that of plant breeding, agro-ecology, soil, and plant science. Social Fields Theory is applied to study the political economy of agriculture including the politics of seeds and agrochemicals and Soil Health theory to suggest alternatives. We then incorporate ecological feedbacks to develop an Agricultural Treadmill Theory and apply Transition Theory to study social change. Using mixed methods, we will conduct discourse analysis, network analysis, and modelling at multiple scales including farms, river basins, and jurisdictions.