The Land Institute

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-land-institute

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the organization type?Nonprofit research, education, and policy organization
2. What is the location?Salina, Kansas
3. Why do they want to grow perennial grain crops instead of annual ones?They want perennial grains because yearly crops need a lot of digging, fertilizer, and can hurt the soil and water. Perennial plants stay in the ground, so they need less digging and keep the soil healthy.
4. How do perennial grains help the soil and the environment?Perennial grains have deep roots that hold the soil in place, soak up water, and store carbon, which helps stop erosion, clean the water, and keep the earth healthier.

Perennial Agriculture: Farming systems utilizing plants that live for multiple years, reducing soil disturbance and promoting ecological health.
Annual Cropping Systems: Agricultural practices centered on plants that complete their life cycle in one year, often requiring annual tillage and replanting.
Soil Degradation: The decline in soil quality caused by improper use or poor management, leading to reduced productivity and ecological function.
Carbon Sequestration: The process by which atmospheric carbon dioxide is captured and stored in soil or biomass, helping to mitigate climate change.