Measuring the Carbon Footprint of Perennial Grains: How Planet FWD, General Mills, and the University of Minnesota Are Quantifying The Climate Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture

What is Kernza and why does it matter for climate action?

Kernza® is a perennial grain crop developed from intermediate wheatgrass that can help reduce the carbon footprint of food production. Its deep roots improve soil structure, limit erosion, and store soil carbon, making it a model for regenerative agriculture and climate-smart supply chains.

This research—led by Planet FWD in partnership with the University of Minnesota (UMN) and supported by General Mills—quantifies the full cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of Kernza.

How Planet FWD’s science team enabled the work

Planet FWD’s LCA and carbon accounting team applied the company’s ISO 14040/44– and IPCC-aligned methodology to model both emissions and carbon removals from Kernza cultivation.

Using Planet FWD’s LCA database, the team integrated data from 13 field sites across Minnesota (2017–2023). The result was a transparent, science-based evaluation of Kernza’s greenhouse gas (GHG) profile—including soil organic carbon sequestration, diesel use, fertilizer impacts, and yield effects—setting a new baseline for perennial grain climate data.

Key findings: Kernza is a net-carbon-removing crop

• Organic systems: –1.54 kg CO₂e per kg of grain
  
• Non-organic systems: –1.80 kg CO₂e per kg of grain
  → Both systems demonstrated net carbon removals, meaning they sequestered more carbon than they emitted.
  
  

Other insights:

• Soil carbon sequestration averaged 1,000–1,250 kg CO₂e removed per hectare per year.
  
• Diesel and soil emissions accounted for roughly 80% of total GHGs, highlighting key levers for further reduction.
  
• Higher yields in non-organic systems reduced the per-kilogram emissions intensity, showing how productivity influences carbon outcomes.
  
  

Why this research matters

This study illustrates how quantifying agricultural emissions and removals can help companies move beyond compliance to strategic climate action.

Kernza isn’t just lower-carbon—it represents a win-win opportunity: a perennial ingredient that supports soil regeneration and biodiversity while driving measurable reductions in Scope 3 emissions.

By integrating Kernza into supply chains, food and agriculture companies can:

• Source climate-positive ingredients that improve soil health and resilience
  
• Build Scope 3 inventories rooted in real field data
  
• Use verified data to support carbon disclosure and ESG reporting
  
• Translate scientific results into credible sustainability claims that matter to consumers and retail partners
  
  

This approach connects science, sustainability, and sourcing—showing how regenerative ingredients can create both environmental and business value.

The partnership

• Planet FWD — Provided the science, software, and LCA methodology enabling the analysis.
  
• University of Minnesota — Collected and analyzed field data across Kernza production systems.
  
• General Mills — Served as the key sponsor, funding independent research as part of its regenerative agriculture strategy.
  
  

Together, these partners created one of the first peer-reviewed carbon footprints for a major perennial grain producing region in the United States—a foundation for future research, sourcing, and policy development. Read the full paper here.

People Also Ask (Q&A)

Q1: Is Kernza carbon negative?
👉Kernza can potentially be carbon negative when soil carbon gains from its deep, perennial roots exceed emissions from cultivation, processing, and transport. Reduced tillage and continuous cover enhance carbon storage, but overall carbon balance depends on local conditions, management, and yields. In some systems, Kernza’s soil sequestration can offset most or all associated emissions.

Q2: How does Kernza sequester carbon?
👉Kernza sequesters carbon through its deep, long-lived root system and perennial growth habit. Its roots can reach 2–3 meters into the soil, depositing carbon-rich organic matter that becomes stabilized in deeper layers. Unlike annual grains, Kernza remains in the ground for several years, minimizing soil disturbance and reducing carbon losses from tillage. Continuous ground cover and year-round photosynthesis also enhance carbon uptake, while extensive root-microbe interactions promote soil aggregation and long-term carbon storage.

Q3: What makes Planet FWD’s LCA approach unique?
👉Planet FWD’s LCA approach is unique because it accounts not only for emissions from production inputs but also for carbon sequestration, following strict GHGp Land Sector and Removals Guidance. While most previous LCAs estimate only emissions, our approach captures the full carbon impact, including both emissions and removals, providing a more complete picture of a Kernza’s net footprint.

Q4: How can Kernza help reduce Scope 3 emissions?
👉Sourcing a grain like Kernza that can net sequester carbon not only lowers emissions from its own production but can also offset emissions elsewhere in the supply chain. By replacing conventional annual grains with a carbon-sequestering perennial, companies can reduce upstream Scope 3 emissions and create a net climate benefit that helps counterbalance emissions from other stages, such as processing, packaging, or transportation.

Check out the full open-access article here.

About Planet FWD

Planet FWD is a leading carbon management platform that helps consumer companies measure and reduce emissions with product LCAs, corporate Scope 1–3 footprints, and supplier engagement. Through partnerships like this, Planet FWD is making regenerative agriculture measurable—connecting soil carbon data to supply-chain action and verified sustainability outcomes.