Download (PDF) - The Western Producer

34 FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCERNEWSCORN | PURAMAIZEBuffer cropkeeps GMOs outof organic cornGene blocking system | The hybrid cornprotects a field from GMO driftBY ROBERT ARNASONBRANDON BUREAUGUELPH, Ont. — A new corn varietymay provide organic growersexactly what they need: a buffer zonebetween fields of genetically modifiedand organic corn.The buffer is a genetic advancementthat creates a technologicalbarrier between corn fields.The hybrid, known as PuraMaize,features a gene blocking system thatsolves the problem of GM corn pollendrifting onto corn plants in adjacentorganic fields.“Grain buyers want assurance thatgrain will be free from GMO contamination,and PuraMaize offersjust that,” Maury Johnson, owner ofBlue River Hybrids, an organic seeddealer in Kelley, Iowa, said in a statement.MAURY JOHNSONBLUE RIVER HYBRIDS“PuraMaize is highly effective inprotecting corn from GMO fielddrift… (so) grain farmers and buyershave a powerful new tool at their disposalfor preserving non-GMO integrity.”Hoegemeyer Hybrids of Nebraskapatented the PuraMaize technologyseveral years ago.For now, Blue River Hybrids is theonly U.S. company licensed to distributethe hybrid, which was developedthrough conventional cornbreeding.A company fact sheet said Pura-Maize contains genes known asgametophyte factors. A gene, commonlyknown as GA1S, preferentiallyselects pollen from corn plants withthe same genotype, which obstructspollination drift from other cornhybrids.Organic growers need this technologybecause GM contamination is achallenge and will soon become alarger problem in North America.Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto andBayer are expected to release corn,soybeans and other crops withstacked herbicide tolerance over thenext few years.The introduction of new herbicidetolerant traits will increase theamount of GMOs in fields across theUnited States and Canada, which willincrease the risk of GMO contaminationin organic crops.Several organic advocates suggestedat the Guelph Organic Conferencein early February that the federalTOM MANLEYHOMESTEAD ORGANICSgovernment should intervene. Theysaid that in an ideal world, conventionalgrowers should have to establishbuffer zones on the edges of theirfields to prevent pollen drift intoorganic fields.However, Tom Manley, owner ofHomestead Organics, a farm supplyand advisory service near Cornwall,Ont., said such a policy is an organicpipe dream.Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary sectorfor agriculture minister GerryRitz, has made it clear that he doesn’tthink GMOs are a public risk, Manleysaid at the Guelph meeting. If thegovernment says GMOs aren’t a contaminantand aren’t a threat to thepublic, then the organic sector can’tbe asking for a policy to prevent GMOcontamination, he added.“So there’s just no air in the balloonat all.”Organic growers may have to insteadrely on technological solutionssuch as PuraMaize.Blue River Hybrids sold Pura-Maize for the first time last year.Producers in 11 states planted thecorn variety and grower responsehas been positive, said Erika Brodersen,marketing manager for BlueRiver Hybrids.“We’ve got people from Iowa toMaryland that are planting Pura-Maize,” she said.The company sells PuraMaize inCanada through a distributor inOntario.Last year was a tough summer forcorn growers in many regions ofthe U.S., but the PuraMaize hybridperformed fairly well, Brodersensaid.“As far as the yield, we’re seeingcomparable yields comparable toother products (organic corn varieties).”In addition, independent testingeither didn’t detect GMOs in Pura-Maize corn grown last year or detectedGMO levels of less than 0.05 percent.PuraMaize is the first corn hybrid toreach the commercial phase, butother entrepreneurs are developingsimilar technologies.As reported in the Organic & Non-GMO Report, Frank Kutka, a NorthDakota State University corn breeder,is developing varieties called“organic ready,” which recognizes itsown pollen and rejects pollen fromother corn hybrids.Organic growers welcome the PuraMaize blocking technology to prevent GM contamination. | FILE PHOTOYOURPERFORMANCE.