Growing intermediate wheatgrass as a perennial grain crop in the United States: exploring the multifunctionality of agriculture within socio-technical constraints
Résumé
The past decade has seen increasing consideration, stakeholder involvement and investments for growing intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) as a perennial grain crop in the upper Midwest, USA. IWG has been presented as a multipurpose crop able to combine multiple agricultural goods and ecosystem services. The objective of this paper is to comprehend the present IWG situation in the Midwest from the standpoint of farmers growing IWG, encompassing their objectives, practices, and the obstacles they confront. Additionally, it will address the notion of multifunctionality within the framework of introducing a minor crop into farming systems. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with IWG growers in the Upper Midwestern US. Results revealed that beyond direct agronomic benefits mentioned by farmers, growing IWG was motivated by a broader approach to agriculture. Thanks to its specific features, IWG was for farmers a tool to accomplish various non-commercial dimensions of farming (e.g., environmental conservation, education, community building) and to fulfil their roles as producers, environmental stewards and citizens. In addition, the regional socio-technical system appeared to impose strong constraints on IWG cropping through profitability assessment and processing issues. Cropping practices reflected the balance between uniform technical recommendations and adaptations to the farming system and farmer’s expertise. This paper provides insights into farmers’ perspectives and concerns regarding IWG in the US.
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