Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Inc. | Field Services

Identity Preservation Information
Inspection Services

Phytosanitary
Quality Assurance Seed

Illinois Crop Improvement has been exploring the value of identity-preserved grains for many years. The advent of genetically modified crops has renewed interests in Identity Preserved (IP) systems. From source of seed verification to equipment cleanliness and harvest sampling, IP standards are designed to preserve the genetic and physical identity of the grain. For projects large and small, Illinois Crop Improvement is ready to assist you in designing a program that meets the needs of producers, handlers, and end users. Below are some example programs that Illinois Crop Improvement has been involved with along with additional information on Identity Preservation.

	Clean Bin Inspections and Audits for Illinois SoySelect Research Program
	Identity Preservation Training for the AgGuild of Illinois
	Process Audit for InnovaSure^TM IdP (Cargill Dry Corn Ingredients, formerly Illinois Cereal Mills)
	Isolation Certificates for Kanematsu USA, Inc.
	Complete IP Program for Fresh Pure Green^TM Soybeans, Clarkson Grain

Identity Preservation Information
Identity Preservation (IP)
The purpose of an IP system is to identify products that have met specific requirements designed to preserve the genetic and/or physical identity of the product. In other words, the product the consumer receives is the product that the farmer produced. The product has not been mixed, contaminated, or otherwise adversely altered from its intended identity. The crop’s unique identity has been preserved. Practices, standards, and monitoring are patterned after certified seed production under the AOSCA IP standards. Grain produced under this system can be labeled with a trademarked IP label.

Related Links
Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies
Food Grade and Grain Testing
Illinois Specialty Farm Products Corn
Illinois Specialty Farm Products Soy
Non-GMO Testing

Printable Forms & Information
IP Program (AOSCA Standards) - Coming Soon
IP Farmer Education Packet
GMO Brochure
Equipment Preparation and Cleaning for Identity Preserved Crops
Field Inspection Fees and Application Dates

Inspection Services
Many companies use ICIA services without completing Certification, QA or IP labeling requirements. These companies use brand recognition and private tags or labels to meet seed law and other marketing requirements. ICIA serves these companies with activities tailored to the needs and requirements of the company’s internal quality assurance system. Trained full time staff members conduct system audits and field inspectors are specifically trained prior to being assigned a custom inspection role.

Phytosanitary
Phytosanitary Certificates are often required by nations importing seed or grain from the United States. In the state of Illinois, ICIA inspectors, conduct visual inspections during the growing season for diseases in fields producing grain or seed for export. The University of Illinois makes a diagnosis based on suspect samples submitted by the ICIA inspector. The IDOA, under the authority of the USDA, ultimately issues the official certificate based on ICIA reports. ICIA is accredited under the National Seed Health System (NSHS), authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA – APHIS).www.seedhealth.org

Quality Assurance (QA)
QA is an AOSCA system of record keeping, inspection and testing patterned after the certification system for private label seed production. ICIA customers may use the comprehensive QA system and label the resulting seed with a trademarked QA logo or green QA tags. Or the customer may choose to hire ICIA to perform certain activities in support of an internal quality assurance system. Internal quality assurance systems are not eligible for the QA trademark or tags without participating in the complete QA program, see inspection services.

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