Reviving 19th-Century Rye from Michigan's Shipwrecked Seeds

A team of divers and scientists in Michigan have recovered rye grain from the 1878 shipwreck of the James R. Bentley in Lake Huron, aiming to revive the historical grain for whiskey production. The rye, a predecessor to modern varieties, was brought to Michigan State University for genetic analysis after attempts to germinate it failed. The project, led by Mammoth Distilling and MSU, seeks to reintroduce rye as a viable crop in Michigan, using modern genetic techniques to blend the historical rye's genome with current varieties. The effort highlights the intersection of history, agriculture, and modern science.