May 31, 2012

US sees Arkansas' potential to be major non-GM soy source

US Arkansas has the capability to be the chief provider of non-genetically modified (GM) soy seed, beans and other soy-related products in the country.

This is according to Drew Oliver at the May 8 meeting of the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board (ASPB) in the Food Science Department of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's Research and Extension Center near the U of A campus.

Oliver is a Crittenden County farmer who heads the International Marketing and Industry Relations Committee of the ASPB, which manages checkoff funds paid by soy producers and processors to support research and promotion.

Constant exposure to the same herbicide has resulted in weed resistant populations of GM soy prompting some farmers to plant non-GMO soy seed and use more comprehensive weed management practices.

Consumers who prefer food labelled as free of genetically modified ingredients have created a market for non-GMO soy food products. Some Arkansas farmers grow non-GMO soy under contract with companies or marketing groups for production of non-GMO soy products such as edamame, tofu, soymilk, natto and others.

The Division of Agriculture's soy breeding programme has produced high yielding, Arkansas adapted non-GMO varieties that are marketed by the state's seed industry. Arkansas is a leading state in the production and marketing of soy seed.