Strategies to Minimize Risks of GMO Contamination

There are many market opportunities for non-GMO crops. Growers need to practice due diligence to reduce or eliminate the presence of material from genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in the final product. The amount of GMO content that is allowed will be dictated by the contract or the purchaser according to their end markets requirements. Non-GMO markets include organic production and many food grade markets.

As a grower you have two possible situations:

1. You are growing non-GMO crops and selling into non-GMO markets. If you do not meet the non-GMO market requirements you will lose that market premium. It will cost you profit and harm your opportunity for those markets in the future.
2. Your neighbour is growing non-GMO crops and your practices (from your GMO crops) may impact on their ability to market acceptable non-GMO crop products.

• Use GMO-free seed. Make sure that the seed you use was not inadvertently contaminated by GMO material. Certified seed has been grown and processed according to accepted standards to maintain crop purity. Keep records of seed sources. Some markets, such as organic, require a letter from the seed supplier declaring the non-GMO status of the seed.
• Grow non-GMO crops in fields that are properly isolated from neighboring fields (even small fields/gardens) of GMO crops of the same species. Know the required distances for your crop. Know which varieties are GMO and which events may be problematic for your market. Staggering corn planting (and pollination) dates can help, but this is not a foolproof method of eliminating contamination.
• Establish good lines of communication and work with your neighbours to negotiate field selection and to minimize future surprises. This should be done well in advance with a last minute update at planting time.
• Know which neighbouring crops are GMO with the potential for contamination of your crops. Record the locations and distances to your crops. For corn and canola record the pollination dates of each field.
• Make sure your equipment, (planters, combines, grain buggies, trucks, augers, and bins) is clean when handling seed and grain. If possible, do not use the same equipment for GMO and non-GMO crops. Clean all equipment thoroughly, especially custom equipment. Record procedures used to clean and check equipment.
• Do not contaminate grain with dust or other crop materials from GMO crops when handling, trucking or processing.
• Test your crop for the presence of GMO and keep these records. Keep a sample of the product at time of sale in case future testing is required.
• Know what your buyers want - before you plant.
• Keep complete and accurate records to establish an audit trail, in case they are required in the future.

Adapted from "10 Strategies to Minimize Risks of GMO Contamination" by Jim Riddle, Organic Independents, Winona, MN

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• 10 Strategies to Minimize Risks of GMO Contamination

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