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University of Minnesota professor Don Wyse, who co-founded the Forever Green Initiative over a decade ago, died earlier this month at the age of 77, surrounded by his family. 

Wyse had recently celebrated 50 years of teaching and research at the University of Minnesota, according to the obituary shared by his family, and during his tenure he instructed thousands of undergraduate students, advised over 100 graduate students, published over 200 scientific journal articles, authored two book chapters, held 14 research patents and six plant variety patents. 

The latest phase of Wyse's career included a broader vision for agriculture in the Upper Midwest. 

"He was instrumental in bringing together individuals across the entire agriculture infrastructure to work on the most challenging issues affecting agriculture, the environment, and society," read his obituary. "He successfully formed several formal partnerships and collaborations among farmers, universities, governments, foundations, major food companies, conservation groups, and rural and urban community leaders."

Wyse co-founded the Forever Green Initiative in 2012, which researches and promotes alternative crops that protect water and soil. Today, the Forever Green Initiative portfolio includes over 15 crops that are each supported by a multidisciplinary team that may include expertise in the areas of genomics, breeding, agronomics, natural resource sciences, food science, sociology, economics and commercialization.

that he was brought to Minnesota in 1974 by grass seed producers in northern Minnesota who wanted to put a perennial crop into their annual cropping system.

鈥淭hey wanted to expand the grass seed industry, which is basically based on a series of perennial grasses that you don't have to plant every year, and you would harvest in the middle of the summer,鈥� Wyse said at a legislative field event at Albert Lea Seed on July 26, 2022, to highlight the work of the Forever Green Initiative. 

Wyse, who was raised on his family鈥檚 farm in Ohio, got to see the initiative grow to the point where it had partners in public and private companies and over 50 researchers who developed crops capable of thriving in the Upper Midwest. Last year, . In 2022, the New York Times called Wyse a visionary in an article titled

鈥淲e've come a long way,鈥� Wyse said in 2022. 鈥淚f we're looking at the grass seed industry in northern Minnesota, and Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, those perennial grasses are the most profitable crops in those two counties.鈥�

Connie Fernholz Carlson, assistant statewide director of the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, to Wyse that he was a "dynamic force for clean water, healthy soil, sustainable agriculture and a fierce champion for rural communities."

"Although his loss is tremendous, Don was also adamant that the work required 鈥渁ll hands on deck.鈥� I believe his most important skill was his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, tell them the story of his work and make them champions for sustainability in their corners of the world. I am one of them."

A celebration of the life of Don Wyse will take place on Friday, July 26, at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota. The service will begin at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow.