The Associated Press. A North Dakota company has started testing seeds and crops to verify they have not been genetically changed through biotechnology. Consumer fears have led some major grain buying companies to offer premiums for non-altered crops and to segregate the crops they buy. So far, Adams' tests only verify that soybeans being bought and sold are not Roundup-ready, or made immune to the herbicide Roundup.
Soybeans are ground, mixed with water and a buffer agent.
Then the solution is placed in a tube and a wick-like detector is inserted. One red line appears on the wick if the test is negative. Two lines indicate a Roundup-ready soybean. The tests are very sensitive and could accurately detect Roundup-ready genes if only one bean in 1,000 had them, Adams said. He predicts the testing eventually will become more specific.