1998 Identity Preserved in New Terms

The biotech revolution redefined the seed and grain industries. Where identity preservation had once meant striving for higher oil, more protein, or a desirable characteristic, the grain industry wanted to accept anything other than biotechnology. One of the first multi-state AOSCA Identity Preserved programs was started in Illinois by Lynn Clarkson of Clarkson Grain. The Fresh Pure Green program delivered food-grade non-GMO soybeans to Clarkson Grain’s overseas customers. The program included all the points used by the seed industry to ensure varietal identity and purity. Seed sources were verified and tested, and field inspections looked for admixtures and isolation issues. Educating farmers and verifying clean bins was also part of the process. The AOSCA trademarked IP logo and official certificates communicated to the buyer that Clarkson had followed a valid process monitored by a third-party with the test results to back it up. In the program’s first year, soybeans were produced in five states, eventually reaching two more for a total of seven states. The multi-state program required a cooperative effort between Illinois Crop and its sister agencies in AOSCA. Illinois Crop hosted tours for buyers and sellers as part of the changes in the identity-preserved landscape.