Location
Age
Area of FocusAbout Wes' Work
Wes Jackson is the founder and co-director of the Land Institute, a nonprofit organization in Salina, Kansas.
Under Jackson’s direction, the Land Institute is known for its pioneering work in Natural Systems Agriculture, an ecologically sound and perennial food-grain-producing system. Reaching beyond the species studied by most agronomists, Jackson has focused on long-term, genetic selection to locate forgotten sources of disease resistance, perennialism, and drought tolerance. Using techniques such as materials recycling and solar energy, he combines these traits of natural ecosystems with the food-yielding properties of more conventional species to produce vigorous hybrids. His method of agriculture mitigates soil erosion, lessens agrochemical contamination of land and water, and cuts demand for fossil fuels, making conservation a nearly effortless consequence of crop production.
Biography
Jackson’s work at the Institute includes informing educational institutions and the public about the benefits and feasibility of Natural Systems Agriculture. His articles have been published in such journals as Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment and Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences.
Jackson received a B.A. (1958) from Kansas Wesleyan University, an M.A. (1960) from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. (1967) from North Carolina State University.
Last updated January 1, 2005
Published on July 1, 1992
