When you think of perennial crops, you may think of fruit or nut trees, not plants like wheat or rice, which are traditionally planted every year. An organization called The Land Institute, based in Salina, Kansas is hoping to change that. They have been at work developing perennial grain and legume crops.

You may wonder why? Perennial crops have many advantages. They have economic and environmental benefits by requiring less, or no, pesticides and fertilizers, and they can reduce carbon pollution, prevent erosion of the soil and, like trees, hold carbon in the soil.