When a GMO crop is taken to an elevator is it kept separated from non GMO?

Expert response from Jennifer Schmidt

Maryland Farmer and Registered Dietician

Friday, 10/07/2015 13:03

The answer to this question is, “it depends.” 

First, segregation of grains can happen for any seed. Whether seed is GMO or non-GMO is not the only criteria upon which grains are needed to be segregated. This is particularly true for seeds grown for future seed. It has to be true to its genetics to be pure, regardless of whether it is GMO, non-GMO, or conventional hybrids. In the case of organics, it has to be segregated based on production methods in order to maintain its certification as organic, but the different corn varieties for organics can be commingled unless it is for seed. 

The separation or genetic purity of any seed begins on the farm. In fact, it begins in the farm office with field records tracking the types of grains that were grown before in order to assure that the farmer will be able to successfully fulfill the contract of genetic purity for any seed contract. It requires careful management and tracking from spring planting through fall harvest to be sure that it remains segregated from other varieties of the same grain. So for example, say my farm grows hypothetical “ABC123” corn variety which needs to be segregated and “DEF456” and “GHI789” corn varieties which are both commodity corn not requiring segregation. Our farm records need to reflect all the management we did to ensure that “ABC123” stayed segregated from the other corn varieties.

Specific to your question - we need to deliver to the specific grain elevator established in our contract in order for “ABC123” corn to remain segregated from all the other farmers who are delivering corn at harvest. If a company wants verified genetics of a specific variety of corn or any other grain, they will have designated a specific grain elevator and which grain tanks that corn will get stored in. By the time the grain leaves the farm, if it is to be kept separate for any reason, the buyer would have made those specifications in the contract and at the specific grain elevator which can handle keeping some grains segregated from other.

Segregation versus commingling of grains is really dependent on how the end user intends to use the grain. 

Expert response from Jennifer Schmidt

Maryland Farmer and Registered Dietician

Friday, 10/07/2015 13:03

The answer to this question is, “it depends.” 

First, segregation of grains can happen for any seed. Whether seed is GMO or non-GMO is not the only criteria upon which grains are needed to be segregated. This is particularly true for seeds grown for future seed. It has to be true to its genetics to be pure, regardless of whether it is GMO, non-GMO, or conventional hybrids. In the case of organics, it has to be segregated based on production methods in order to maintain its certification as organic, but the different corn varieties for organics can be commingled unless it is for seed. 

The separation or genetic purity of any seed begins on the farm. In fact, it begins in the farm office with field records tracking the types of grains that were grown before in order to assure that the farmer will be able to successfully fulfill the contract of genetic purity for any seed contract. It requires careful management and tracking from spring planting through fall harvest to be sure that it remains segregated from other varieties of the same grain. So for example, say my farm grows hypothetical “ABC123” corn variety which needs to be segregated and “DEF456” and “GHI789” corn varieties which are both commodity corn not requiring segregation. Our farm records need to reflect all the management we did to ensure that “ABC123” stayed segregated from the other corn varieties.

Specific to your question - we need to deliver to the specific grain elevator established in our contract in order for “ABC123” corn to remain segregated from all the other farmers who are delivering corn at harvest. If a company wants verified genetics of a specific variety of corn or any other grain, they will have designated a specific grain elevator and which grain tanks that corn will get stored in. By the time the grain leaves the farm, if it is to be kept separate for any reason, the buyer would have made those specifications in the contract and at the specific grain elevator which can handle keeping some grains segregated from other.

Segregation versus commingling of grains is really dependent on how the end user intends to use the grain.