2015 SPRING NOSB MEETING

April 30, 2015

LaLollla, CA

SEED PURITY – Solution 

in the Realm of Possible

Charles Brown

President 

Brownseed Genetics, LLC. 
:

Company History

Third Generation. 

Family owned and operated. 

Began in 1911.

Brownseed Genetics is Independent 

corn breeding program. Focus early 

maturity, value-added.

CBSeedTM retail brand focused on 

Northern US corn belt – GMO, nonGMO and Organic seed. 
100% non-GMO inbred line 

development
FARIMOUNT, ND

MAS 

DOUBLE-HAPLOID

REPLICATED, 

MINI-STRIP 

TRIALS 4 STATES

IN-HOUSE NIR

A/P GM

A/P

NIR REP, MINI
SPRING 2015 NOSB MEETING

1. CONTEXT: Seed Flow: from nursery to commercial seed field. 

2. CONTEXT: View Seed Purity Reality. Venn Diagram. 

3. Question 2 Response: 2000 BSG Pollen Study Data Summary.

4. 2014 OV/GroAlliance Study.

5. Question 3 Response: Purity Plus® Production Standards

6. Current Efforts ASTA. 

7. Possible Solution.
HYBRID CORN SEED FLOW

 GENETIC

ENVIRONMENT MARKET

3 FORCES IMPACT GENETIC PURITY

Let the Market sort out the SQ issues. 
Q.2 Farmer plants seed of at-risk crops surrounded by the

same conv. GE crop, follows all prevention strategies for

organic producers, what level of contamination might be

expected on the average? Is this level different when starting

with tested conv. seed than untested conv. or organic seed?
RF Plot: 2000 Pollen Study
0

50

100

150

200

250

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

# Blue Ker x Dist x Time

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

2000 Pollen Study – Range 1 Early
0

50

100

150

200

250

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

# Blue Ker x Dist x Time

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

2000 Pollen Study – Range 2 Late

Range 2 - LATE # Rows # Days Silk

HYBRID TASSEL DATE SILK DATE # BLUE KER* % AP DISTANCE ** BAD

7050 A7 A7 0 0.00% 39 10

7041 A7 A7 0 0.00% 37 10

7M95 A7 A7 0 0.00% 35 10

9M95HAP A7 A7 0 0.00% 33 10

7M92 A7 A7 0 0.00% 31 10

7M93 A7 A7 0 0.00% 29 10

7M91 A3 A7 0 0.00% 27 10

6950 A5 A3 0 0.00% 25 6

6990ND A6 A6 0 0.00% 23 9

6M84RR A4 A4 0 0.00% 21 7

6M85 A3 A3 0 0.00% 19 6

6M90A A6 A6 0 0.00% 17 9

6895 A6 A6 0 0.00% 15 9

6341 A3 A3 0 0.00% 13 6

6M83RR A6 A6 0 0.00% 11 9

6850 A6 A6 0 0.00% 9 9

6640 A6 A6 0 0.00% 7 9

6M82 A3 A3 64 28.44% 5 6

6M89 A6 A6 140 62.22% 3 9

6M88 A6 A6 207 92.00% 1 9

BLUE J29 J29 0

BLUE J31 J31 0

6M90B A6 A6 156 69.33% 1 7

6070 A4 A4 108 48.00% 3 5

6574 A5 A5 66 29.33% 5 6

5M77 A6 A6 8 3.56% 7 7

5225 A5 A5 6 2.67% 9 6

5M70 A5 A5 10 4.44% 11 6

5541Bt A2 A2 4 1.78% 13 3

5M71 A3 A3 0 0.00% 15 4

5M68 A6 A6 0 0.00% 17 7

5M69RR A6 A6 0 0.00% 19 7

5M80A A3 A6 4 1.78% 21 7

5M76 A3 A3 0 0.00% 23 4

5M75 A6 A6 0 0.00% 25 7

5M63 A6 A6 0 0.00% 27 7

5060 A6 A6 0 0.00% 29 7

5M79 A5 A3 0 0.00% 31 4

5M74 A3 A3 0 0.00% 33 4

5M73 A3 A5 0 0.00% 35 6

5290wx A5 A3 0 0.00% 37 4

5941RR A6 A6 0 0.00% 39 7

LOW A2 A2 0 0.00% 1 3

HIGH A7 A7 207 92.00% 39 10

Q.2 This data would suggest >100’ isolation with 7 day silk delay

from foreign pollen would result in high probability of success to

achieve .1 AP threshold or none found in 3000 seeds.
Q.3 Several possible testing standards for seed have been

suggested to us, 1)No-Detect for GMOs in a 3000 seed sample, 

2) .1% threshold, and 3) .9% threshold as is required in other

countries. What is your experience and opinion with these

options with regard to practicality, cost and integrity?
ZONE HARVEST TRIALS

Goal: Assess the feasibility and cost of producing organic, hybrid 

seed corn to a “none found in a 3,000 seed” standard for genetic 

purity with regard to GMO, simply by doing it.

Note: Tested using Semi-quantitative, real-time PCR and 10,000 seed samples. (NOS 

and 35s)

“1” in 1 found... refers to a positive testing well of 250 seeds

In-field Purity promoting techniques:

- Nearest corn was located over 1,300ft from the field.

- Planting was delayed to insure a 2 week off-set in pollen shed from 

surrounding fields.

- An 8-row male border was planted around the field perimeter to promote 

pollen flooding.

- Male parent rows contained two plantings of the same inbred, spread 

several days apart to extend the

pollen shed window beyond the typical 12 days.

Parent Line “none found” language Estimated total GMO presence

Male 1 found in 10,000 0.01%

Female None found in 10,000 Non-detect

Note: Tested using Semi-quantitative, real-time PCR and 10,000 seed samples. (NOS and35s)

“1” in 1 found... refers to a positive testing well of 250 seeds

Parent line seed purity:

Parent Line “none found” language Estimated total GMO presence
Results:

Description “none found” language Estimated total GMO presence

Proposed standard None found in 3,000 0.1%

Zone 1 5 found in 3,000 0.22%

Zone 2 3 found in 3,000 0.12%

Note: Tested using Semi-quantitative, real-time PCR and 3,000 seed samples. (NOS and35s)

“1” in 1 found... refers to a positive testing well of 300 seeds

Conclusions:

- “None found in 3,000 seeds” standard for GM purity (and any 0.1% threshold) isnot

feasible for seed corn given the current predominance of GM corn in theUS.

- Further investigation, and a more complete accounting of the level of GM presence in organic, IP,and

non-GMO seed supplies (for various crops) is essential to the on-going rule-making discussion.

- Without a more factual basis for discussing the feasibility of seed purity standards, we run the riskof

substantially damaging the companies that have built this fledgling segment of the seed industry.

- Data on GM presence in these sensitive sectors should be mediated/aggregated by aqualified

governmental department to prevent damage to early adopters and those willing to confront theissue.
Q.3. Also, the data showing 100’ isolation and 7 day minimum

delay would not have worked at GroAlliance OV Zone Test.

My opinion is the contamination resulted from the male parent

having .1% AP, not from AP pollen flow. 

Another explanation would be sampling error. Another

explanation would be environment conducive to pollen viability,

and/or late plants.
Q.3. However the lesson learned is that with rising sensitivity of

testing and dynamic production environment, there is risk in

establishing a threshold without enough data and input from

stakeholders. 

Field production is not a precise world.
Economics of 40 acre seed field.

Seed acre Fixed + Variable Cost $3500 - $4000

Opportunity cost, other not incl. x 40

 $144,000 - $160,000

Variables: Bad wind at pollination, viable pollen environment,

comingling, dust on seed from post-harvest handling, inter-field

crew and machinery movement .
Q3. Several possible testing standards for seed have been 

suggested to us: 1) No-detect for GMOs in a 3000 seed sample, 

2) 0.1% threshold and 3) .9% threshold as is required by other 

countries. What is your experience and opinion with these 

options with regard to practicality, cost and integrity. 

1. 49 GMO-PURE INBRED LINES. The biggest “home run” of the Grant were the 

purity results on 50 inbred lines of our permanent culture. When we started, we did 

not think any, or perhaps a few, were 0.00 % presence of GMO proteins. We tested 

50 lines for this and 49 of the lines tested (98%) came back 0.00 % pure of GMO 

proteins. This exceeded our goal significantly. Many of these lines are in an active 

hybrid testing program, and are to be released within the next two years, as soon as 

we can do the increase. We would not have been able to test for A/P under our 

normal program due to the risk of return. 
NURSERY

Brownseed Genetics

Seed Purity Program – Operating Procedures

1. Purity PlusTM Production Standard

 for high probability of success in non-GMO seed 

 production

Isolation requirements

Phenotype requirements

Seed quality requirements

Seed purity requirements

2. Require 3rd Party validation at every step. 

AOSCA certification

Seed tag

MCIA initial coordinator
Marketing

Support

2012 

Launch
PURITY PLUSTM INBRED SEED

ISOLATION STANDARDS

 1. Minimum isolation from corn: 1320 feet*

 2. Minimum isolation from biotech-trait corn: 2640 feet*

 3. The previous crop on a parent seed increase field should be any crop other than corn

 *Isolation can be modified by use of border rows – 1 row=30’, maximum 20 border rows.

PHENOTYPIC STANDARDS

 1. An inbred seed increase field shall have no more than 0.1% (1 per 1000) off-type plants

 2. Conditioned inbred seed shall have no more than 0.2% (2 per 1000) of off-color or offtextured kernels

SEED QUALITY STANDARDS

 1. Pure Seed (minimum) 99.50%

 2. Inert Matter (maximum) 0.50%

 3. Other crop seed (maximum) 0.00%

 4. Weed seed (maximum) 0.00%

 5. Standard Germ 95.00%

 6. Cold Germ 85.00%

 

GENETIC PURITY STANDARDS

 1. Two and three loci off types: Maximum of 0.5% (1 per 200 plants)

 2. Variants: Maximum of 0.5% (1 per 200 plants) 

 3. Adventitious presence: Maximum of 0.1% at 95% Confidence (None

 Found in 3,000 k)
PURITY PLUS® FLOW CHART

GENERATION 1 GENERATION 2 GENERATION 3 GENERATION 4

Open Pollinated 

Inbred Increase

from GEN2 seed for GEN3 

generation

Open Pollinated 

Parent Seed Increase

from GEN3 seed for GEN4 

generation

Test inbred purity (200k), 

adventitious presence test (3000k),

warm (400k) and cold test (400k) 

Test inbred purity (200k), 

adventitious presence test (3000k),

warm (400k) and cold test (400k)

Plant 20-40 seeds, select and 

hand pollinate for GEN2 

planting

Plant 10+ GEN1 ear samples 

in ear/rows, select and 

hand pollinate selected plants

for GEN2 ears

BSP testing on ears 

of selfed plants (10 kernals/ear)

AP Testing of each plant

BSP testing on ears 

of selfed plants (10k)

AP Testing of each plant

Plant 10+ ear rows

for hand pollinated selfing

Plant 10+ ear rows

for hand pollinated selfing

Plant 10+ ear rows

for hand pollinated selfing

BSP testing on ears 

of retained plants (10k)

BSP testing on ears 

of retained plants (10k)

BSP testing on ears 

of retained plants (10k)

PS retains a portion of GEN2 seed as

original Breeders Seed source

in cold storage

START 

HERE WITH 

ANY SEED 

SOURCE

Condition, Bag and 

sell inbred seed for 

elite hybrid seed 

production

IsozymeGenotype testing 

on 20 kernels of 

source seed

BSP QA

BULK

AP = 0.00%

INBRED PURITY > 99.5%

WARM>95%/ COLD>85%

AP < 0.10%

Retain 10 - 50 ears for line 

maintenance program

INBRED INCREASE

INBRED

MAINTENANCE

BSP QA

HOMOZYGOUS GENOTYPE

AP = 0.00%

GEN 0

SEEDS

GEN 1

SEEDS

GEN 0

SEEDS

pure feeder 

source for 

year 2

pure feeder 

source for 

year 3

pure feeder 

source for 

year 3

AP = 0.00%

INBRED PURITY > 99.5%

WARM>95%/ COLD>85%

AP < 0.10%

Retain 10 - 50 ears for line 

maintenance program

GEN 1

SEEDS

GEN 2

SEEDS

GEN 1

SEEDS

GEN 2

SEEDS

GEN 3

SEEDS

GEN 2

SEEDS

GEN 3

SEEDS

GEN 4

SEEDS

GEN 3

SEEDS

GENOTYPE 

FREQUENCIES 

DETERMINED
Purity PlusTM Testing Process 

Step Test

1-Program Entry Evaluation Isozyme Pre-evaluation

2-Inbred Purification AP Test Nursery Plants

2-Inbred Purification Breeders Seed Purification 

3-Breeders Seed Increase Bulk AP

3-Breeders Seed Increase Breeders Seed Purification

3-Breeders Seed Increase SNP Marker Genotype

4-Parent Seed Increase Inbred Purity

4-Parent Seed Increase AP Test

4-Parent Seed Increase Warm Test

4-Parent Seed Increase Cold Test

4-Parent Seed Increase Purity Analysis

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production Inbred Purity 

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production AP Test

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production Warm Test

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production Cold Test

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production Super Cold Test

5-Commercial Inbred Seed Production Purity Analysis

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production Hybrid Purity 

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production AP Test

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production Warm Test

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production Cold Test

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production Super Cold Test

6-Commercial Hybrid Seed Production Purity Analysis

From single ear to 

Commercial hybrid seed

Six generations
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ASTA CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
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ASTA CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

‘MADISON GROUP’ MEMBER SURVEY FOR ORGANIC

AND NON-GMO SEED AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIC 

MARKET. AVAILABLE JUNE 2015

ACCESSING NEW GERMPLASM FROM LARGE 

BREEDING COMPANY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH

FOUDATION HOUSE. AVAILABLE SOON. 
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

Seed Companies all have 

production standards

For Isolation, Phenotye,

Genetic Purity. 
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

Solution:

NOSB recommend to NOP 

to support production 

standards of seed 

companies made public on 

sister website AOSCA 

Organic Seed Finder.
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

Solution:

AOSCA websites would 

become ‘clearing house’ 

of production information 

for the industry.

Including: QC standards, 

yield trial data USTN, 

product availability
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

This would:

Educate seed companies, 

certifiers, growers, buyers 

what is possible in seed 

quality. 
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

This would:

Through competition seed 

companies would drive AP 

to lowest level at 

economical cost. 
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

QUESTIONS?
SEED PURITY – Solutions in the Realm of 

Possible

THANK YOU
Mac Ehrhardt

Albert Lea Seed

Albert Lea, MN

GMO Contamination and Avoidance

in Organic Field Seed Production
Questions posed by the NOSB

“3. Several possible testing standards for seed have been suggested to us: 1.) No-detect for GMOs in a 3000 seed 

sample, 2.) 0.01% threshold (because seed must be more stringent than crop testing) and 3). 0.09% threshold as is 

required in other countries. What is your experience and opinion with these options with regard to practicality, cost, 

and integrity?

4. Would a testing program for at-risk conventionally grown seed used on organic farms impact the genetic diversity 

of those crops available to farmers, and if so, to what extent?"

Practical outlook (from field seedsman’s perspective) on the establishment of a 

GMO contamination threshold for seed. (Seed Corn, Soybean, Oats, Wheat, 

Barley) 

• All species are not the same (from a contamination & prevention strategy 

standpoint)

• Current state of contamination in organic and non-organic corn & soybean 

seed

• My opinion on threshold and next steps

What I am going to cover today.
1. Possible to meet a very tight non-gmo standard or threshold

2. Soybeans are self-pollinating, non-hybrid, and true-breeding (not 

commonly cross-pollinated by neighboring fields)

3. Start with genetically pure seed (achievable)

4. Do all the things you would normally do in seed production:

a. Not that much isolation required for soybeans

b. Dedicated non-gmo machinery: (planter, combine, wagons, 

 augers, truck, bin)

c. Dedicated cleaning facility (Belt conveyors, Elevators, 

 Cleaning machinery, packaging machinery)

 

State of GMO Contamination in

Soybean Seed
Non-GMO Conventional and Organic 

Soybean Seed 2013 & 2014.

GMO % of finished lots.

Conv. Non-GMO Organic Soybean Seed

Total Number of 

Tested Lots

30 31

None Detected 24 28

>0.00% - <0.1% 0 0

0.1% - 0.5% 5 2

0.51% - 0.99% 1 1

>1.0% 0 0

• GMO Tests initially done with a 750 seed bio-assay. Positive tests were followed 

up with either a 1500 seed bio-assay or a Quantitative PCR Test.

• All soybean followed the “Best Mgmnt. Practices” outlined in the Guidance 

(grown in MI, WI, IL, IA) and produced under the MCIA’s Non-GMO program.

• The seed tested above represents seed planted on 45-50,000 acres.
I. Corn is Promiscuous

“having or characterized by many transient sexual relationships”

II. In 2013 there were 96 Million Acres of Corn in the U.S. (90% GE)

III. All (99.9%) corn grain is produced from hybrid seed

1. Non-GE Hybrid seed production requires

• 2 pure inbred parents (commonly contaminated at low levels)

• Isolation (distance and/or timing) from GE Corn fields

• Specialized production techniques

(split planting, de-tasseling, rouging)

• Dedicated Processing of seed

State of Contamination in

Organic Hybrid Seed Corn
I. Nearly all corn inbred parent seed is developed and patented by: Syngenta, 

Monsanto, Dupont, Dow

II. Limited Availability of Non-GE Inbreds

• Good news: there are non-GE inbreds that can produce hybrids that 

compete for yield/agronomics with GE inbreds

• Bad news: Very few of these non-GE inbreds are available untreated (non 

from the big companies). Almost zero corn inbreds are available as true 

organic seed.

III. There are small, independent corn breeders who are developing non-GE 

inbreds, but it is slow (7 years on average for 1 inbred) with a low success rate.

IV. Any hybrid seed corn production field (or grain field) can easily by 

contaminated by pollen blowing in from neighboring fields

V. Producing Organic Hybrid Seed Corn requires the coordination of two very 

specialized sets of knowledge. Fewer than 20 growers with capability

VI. The tighter the GE standard we impose on Hybrid Seed Corn, the smaller the 

pool of available inbreds & hybrids

Issues in producing Non-GE 

Organic & Conventional Hybrid Seed Corn
Organic Seed Corn Production 2014

GMO % at Planting and Post-Harvest

Inbred Parent Seed Resulting Hybrid Seed

Female Male

Total Number of 

Tested Lots

23 22 110

None Detected 2 1 ? (1-74)?

>0.01% - <0.1% 6 11 ? (1-74)?

0.1% - 0.5% 7 10 ? (1-74)?

0.51% - 0.99% 4 0 24

>1.0% 4 0 12

• Parent seed tested at Genetic ID using Real-Time PCR Quantitative

• Hybrid seed tested with semi-quantitative strip test (no accuracy below 0.5%)

• All hybrid seed followed the “Best Mgmnt. Practices” outlined in the Guidance 

(grown in MI, WI, IL, IA)

• The seed tested above will be planted on 30-40% of the organic corn acres in 

the U.S. in 2015
State of Contamination in 

Organic Hybrid Seed Corn

A. Corn

1. Availability of Non-GE inbreds

1945

345

155

Estimated Comparison of Current Total Corn Inbred Availablility

Est. Total Inbred Lines

Est. Non-GE Inbreds

Unt. Inbreds Available
What is PuraMaize?

PuraMaize is a natural gene blocking system that 

impedes fertilization from “foreign” pollen.
PuraMaize gene 

system 

prevents 

pollination 

from GMO corn 

and blue corn 

by strongly 

preferring its 

own pollen.

On the left a PuraMaize hybrid, on the right a regular hybrid. 

Both pollinated with Hopi Blue Corn pollen and their own pollen.
Concluding Thoughts

“3. Several possible testing standards for seed have been suggested to us: 1.) No-detect for GMOs 

in a 3000 seed sample, 2.) 0.01% threshold (because seed must be more stringent than crop 

testing) and 3). 0.09% threshold as is required in other countries. What is your experience and 

opinion with these options with regard to practicality, cost, and integrity?

1. Please involve stakeholders from across the seed industry in the 

development of a GMO threshold for seed. 

– Breeders, Growers, Sellers, Farmers. (Vegetable, Field, and other seeds)

2. A single threshold or standard for all seed may not work because of the 

different challenges facing different species. 

– 0.99% in Hybrid Seed corn would require discarding 5-8% of inventory each year

3. The tighter the standard (and the shorter the implementation time) the 

more you will limit the genetic diversity available to organic farmers.

– Again, different for different species

4. Consider who is going to pay for seed that does not meet the standard 

and how that “hidden” cost may affect the price and diversity of seed 

available to organic farmers.
Thank You!
Different types of GE Testing

I. Strip Testing & “Comb” Testing (Lateral Flow Strips)

• Cheap & Fast (within the hour)

• “Quantitative” approach is somewhat crude. Difficult to interpret “stacked” GE 

traits

• Usually protein-based, but newer tests have DNA capabilities

II. Bio-Assay (Grow & Spray) sprout in a chemical solution

• No false positives. Slow (10 days). Take a lot of space. Only works for HT Traits.

III. Elisa Testing (Protein Level Testing)

• More expensive (depending on number of pools tested)

• Somewhat slow (days)

• Good accuracy for stacked GE traits, but expensive

• Fairly accurate, especially when used with pooled statistical methods

IV. PCR Testing (DNA Testing, tests for promoter sequences)

 Very expensive

 High degree of quantitative accuracy (esp. when combined with statistical 

methods)

 Possibility of false positives due to contaminated grain dust or handling 

equipment
Risks for Organic Seed Company (Organic Hybrid Seed 

corn):

1. Purity of Non-GE Inbreds (0.05-0.25 on avg.)

2. Ability to test Non-GE Inbred Seed

3. Even starting with pure inbred seed, hybrid seed 

production can be cross-pollinated by GMOs.

4. Contaminated hybrid seed (who bears cost?)

Real-world example:

600 Bags of Org. 80 Day Hybrid Corn = $81,000

a. GE content is too high (over 1%)

* If we can sell as conventional treated corn

(may not be able to, 2nd class hybrid)

(lose $39,000)

* If we sell as organic feed corn = $6,300 

(lose $74,700)

State of Contamination in

Organic Hybrid Seed Corn
State of Contamination in major Organic 

grain & forage seeds

Hay (Alfalfa & Grass): 786,000 Organic Acres in 2011 (U.S.)

•RR Alfalfa (seed contamination & pollination contamination)

•Testing on Hay? “Almost no GMO testing of organic hay.”

Wheat: 344,000 Organic Acres in 2011 (U.S.)

•No commercialized Transgenic Wheat, although contamination last year found 

in Oregon

Corn: 234,000 Organic Acres in 2011 (U.S.) (300,000 in 2013?)

•Widespread GE contamination in seed & grain, very difficult to control

Soybeans: 132,000 Organic Acres in 2011 (U.S)

•Widespread contamination, much easier to control at low levels

Barley & Oats: 125,000 Organic Acres in 2011 (U.S.)

•No commercialized transgenic barley or oats
• Pollen from surrounding fields may 

drift onto PuraMaize silk.

PuraMaize pollen tubes grow at a normal rate.

Silk

Pollen tube

PuraMaize sperm

PuraMaize reaches the ovule

(or future kernel) first.

“Foreign” pollen tubes grow slowly. 

Foreign pollen
Oregon perspective:

 Different mix of GMO crops compared to 

Midwest US. 

 Seed production important, few commodity 

crops

 Sugar beet seed production

 Silage corn for dairies

 Canola excluded from certain regions

 Grass seed production

 Pinning maps, exclusion zones, isolation 

regulations
May 

2009
Governor’s Task Force on Genetically 

Engineered Seeds and Agricultural 

Products 

 http://oregonconsensus.org/wpcontent/uploads/2014/04/Final-GE-TaskForce-Report.pdf

Coexistence

Cross - pollination and Gene Flow

Practices

Mapping and Pinning

Control Areas

Voluntary vs Mandatory Approaches

Legal Liability, Compensation, Enforcement
Oregon seed production rules 

proposed as a model for 

coexistence

 With seed, relationship between GMO and 

non GMO parties is more equal since neither 

wants contamination

 Relationship in the case of food production is 

asymmetrical: GMO producing entity doesn’t 

care; producer with stringent market 

requirements bears the burden
HB 2509 Relating to agriculture

 Summary: Requires State Department of 

Agriculture to provide mediation program 

services when person has reasonable belief 

that planting, growing or harvesting of 

agricultural or horticultural commodity on 

nearby land might interfere or is interfering 

with farming practices. 
1. Source of contamination

 Will depend on the crop & environment

 For seed crops, degree of outcrossing?

 Clonal propagation?

 Part of value reproductive or vegetative?

 Mature or immature reproductive part? 

 Environmental influence

 Pollinator diversity

 Pollen longevity
Pollen dispersion in Brassicas 

 Most Brassica pollen disperses to within 10 meters 

(33 feet) of its source 

 Transfer has been detected up to 4 km (2.4 miles) 

 Pollen may be moved by wind as well as by insects

 Wind-transferred pollen has been detected up to 1.5 

km (0.9 mile) from the source plant 

 Pollen can live up to 4 or 5 days 

 Warm temperatures and low humidity reduce 

survival time to 1 or 2 days 
1. Source of contamination

 Selfers & clones = adventitious presence 

(soybean, potato, apple)

 Outcrossers

 Seed crop = pollen drift & adventitious presence 

(corn, canola, summer squash, cotton) 

 Vegetative crop = adventitious presence (sugar 

beet, alfalfa)

 Less chance for certified organic seed to 

show adventitious presence
2. Level of contamination w/ mitigation

GMO Crop At risk crop(s) Organic Conventional Greatest risk

Tested Untested

Corn Field & sweet corn low low moderate Wind pollination, 

commingling 

grain

Soybean Soybean, 

edamame

low low moderate Commingling

Alfalfa Alfalfa low low moderate Commingling, 

insect pollination

Canola Canola, Siberian 

kale, rutabaga, 

Asian B. rapa

vegetables, turnip

moderate moderate very high Insect pollination 

(canola); residues 

for vegetables

Sugar beet Sugar beet, table 

beet, chard

low low moderate Commingling for 

sugar beet; 

residue for 

vegetables

Summer squash C. pepo summer 

& winter squash

Moderate Moderate High Insect pollination, 

commingling of 

fruit

Potato Potato Low Low Low Commingling
Canola seed lot contamination with 

GMOs

 Some conventional canola seed lots are 

contaminated with GMO canola*

 ... three varieties of 14 tested exceeded the 0.25% 

maximum allowable contamination...

 ... level of herbicide resistance contamination in 

conventional seed lots exceeded the 0.25% limit in 

approximately half of the 27 samples tested...

 Transgenes detected in aborted seed from B. rapa

but not B. oleracea cross (Quinn, 2010)

*Hall et al., 2003
3. Testing standards for seeds -

practicality, cost, and integrity?

 Type of test

 Grow out - visual inspection or spray

 ELISA

 PCR (divide into lots; rtPCR)

 In testing for presence of seedborne diseases 

(beans, lettuce) threshold of 10,000 to 30,000 

used. 
4. Testing program impact genetic 

diversity?

 Allow only certified organic seeds

 Major bottleneck in short term

 Allow conventional untreated seeds after 

testing

 Less impact on genetic diversity

 Depends on crop (may be difficult to pass 

conventional canola seed lots)
Looking down the road...

 What will a GMO be in 10 years?

 Companies beginning to use technologies 

that do not require federal oversight

 New technologies coming on line - may be 

difficult to detect GE contamination
Transformation is excluded under NOP 

but what about new biotechnologies?

 Companies are using transformation 

techniques that avoid federal oversight (don’t 

know what is GMO and what is not)

 Cisgenics – transformation with genetic 

material from same species

 Genome editing – site directed mutations 

(CRISPR, CAS9)
How do we define GMOs? 

 There are a guiding set of principles in the 

works of Edith Lammerts van Bueren

 Ethics of Plant Breeding: The IFOAM Basic 

Principles as a Guide for the Evolution of 

Organic Plant Breeding 

(http://orgprints.org/16766/1/2300.pdf)