Developing sustainable, profitable crops for Minnesota

Jacob Jungers has always loved nature and being outdoors — it’s what impels and inspires him in his work as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

Jungers has two main objectives for his research. One is to make agriculture more profitable for farmers by developing new crops and cropping systems that provide high-value agricultural products and reduce inputs, thus improving the economics of cropping systems in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. The other is to increase sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.  This includes improving soil and water quality; mitigating environmental pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and improving the nutrient-use efficiency of crops and cropping systems. 

He relies on the basic principles of ecology, field and laboratory experimentation, statistical analysis, and simulation modeling to contribute information to scientists, farmers and policy makers. Currently, his research focuses on the agronomics and environmental impacts of the intermediate wheatgrass Kernza®, a new perennial grain crop. 

“My ultimate goal is to see the agriculture community in Minnesota thrive and grow, becoming more economically stable and viable through the development of new crops. At the same time, I want to see that agriculturalists continue to be the stewards of our environment and can help improve water quality and soil health, making a positive impact on Minnesota’s environment,” said Jungers. 

Jungers is one of 31 faculty members funded through the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Tech Transfer (AGREETT) program, and is playing a critical role in growing the University’s capacity to reach Minnesota farmers with research, data and innovations that enable them to make sound decisions, conserve resources, cope with emerging problems and discover profitable new opportunities.

Kernza is one of a variety of crops that are part of the Forever Green Initiative, a University of Minnesota and USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) program to develop new crops and high-efficiency cropping systems. Forever Green innovations are based on perennial and winter-tolerant crops that will create new economic opportunities and environmental benefits for crop production in northern climates.

The Forever Green Partnership is a multi-sector partnership working to advance year-round productive living cover — "Continuous Living Cover" — on farmland. The Forever Green Partnership unites members from private, public, and advocacy sectors around a common interest in increasing Continuous Living Cover in agriculture to capitalize on  its many economic and environmental benefits.