Tag: USDA

EnviroLogix Launches 10-Trait QuickComb for Corn Bulk Grain

Posted on by Brian Harris

EnviroLogix Inc. offers the world’s most comprehensive, quantitative decision-point screening diagnostic for GMO corn testing with the introduction of the 10-trait QuickComb.

Portland, ME, January 29, 2019 – EnviroLogix Inc. launches the 10-trait QuickComb, now including Duracade™, for corn bulk grain quantitative testing in support of Non-GMO testing programs.

“With the introduction of the industry’s only 10-trait corn comb, EnviroLogix further demonstrates our commitment to customers needing the most comprehensive quantitative decision-point GMO diagnostics for use in the grain handling and processing, animal feed, and export industries,” said Bill Welch, President of EnviroLogix Inc.. “When used in conjunction with our QuickScan II instrument, customers experience the most advanced quantitative solution, along with a traceability system to support claims, using a single test with results in less than ten minutes.”

Duracade, a corn rootworm-resistant trait, has been fully deregulated by the USDA since 2013, and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture granted import approval of corn grain and processing co-products for food and feed use in 2017. More recently, in May of 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a positive scientific opinion that will now proceed to the Standing Committee of representatives to complete the authorization process of final import approval for the European Union.

Welch continued, “Potential regulatory changes permitting the import of Duracade will increase the number of approved countries from fifteen to more than forty. As a result, the need to segregate corn bulk grain containing Duracade in addition to other commercialized GMO traits, for animal feed markets versus human consumption will increase significantly. The 10-trait QuickComb will facilitate grain segregation for importers and exporters to mitigate disruptions in the global supply chain.”

Along with Agrisure Duracade, the new 10-trait GMO comb from EnviroLogix also detects the following: Roundup Ready®; LibertyLink®; YieldGard® Corn Borer, Rootworm, and VT Pro®; Herculex® I and RW; and Agrisure® RW and Viptera® and various stacks of these traits. GMO traits serve crop growers by expressing proteins that allow the plant to better resist pests and herbicides. The addition of Duracade to the EnviroLogix 10-trait QuickComb enables the most comprehensive, critical decision-point GMO testing where EnviroLogix’ customers need it most.

EnviroLogix Inc. is a leading producer of GMO and mycotoxin tests serving the food and feed safety markets. The company continues to provide innovative solutions as the sole supplier of on-site quantitative GMO protein detection and were the first to offer LFD technology for mycotoxin screening in grain. EnviroLogix’ dedication to scientific innovation and providing exceptional solutions for today’s identity-preservation and food-safety supply chains remains at the forefront.

For more information about EnviroLogix Inc. and the quantitative GMO 10-trait corn bulk grain test, visit the QuickComb for QuickScan – Corn page.

Q3’18 Tech Tip from EnviroLogix Tech Support

Posted on by Brian Harris

Take it from someone who’s spoken with countless people stuck in the following predicament: there’s nothing worse than having to get harvest in and running out of combs or strips. The truck lines get longer and longer. Every lost minute results in lost revenue. With QuickScan II, that horrible scenario can permanently become a thing of the past. The new QuickScan II quantitative GMO and mycotoxin detection instrument, launched by EnviroLogix last month, has an inventory management tool that tracks your current test inventory and will count each use as you process your inbound or outbound grain.

Once your inventory falls to a certain a level of tests, set by you to suit your needs, the QuickScan II will send an email to you (or to EnviroLogix) to make ordering that much easier for you. It will be one less thing to worry about during your busy season, letting you focus on everything else you have to get done.

Let’s take a look under the hood to see how this great feature works.

QuickScan II Inventory tab
The Inventory tab from the QuickScan II’s settings
  • Enter received inventory of QuickCombs, QuickStix, and QuickTox Strips into the Inventory Tab to activate the alerts to low inventory levels, set by you. Alerts are given when the number of strips or combs remaining is less than the Low-Level Warning number. Alerts are given as a pop-up dialog in the results screen and as an email to a designated email address.
  • From the Select A Test Kit: drop-down menu, select the test kit for inventory tracking, then click the Add button.
  • Enter the number of tubes, or canisters (for single-strip kits), or number of pouches (for combs) into column 1. The program will automatically convert number of tubes to strips (50 strips per canister) or convert number of pouches to combs (5 combs per pouch).
  • Enter the number of remaining strips or combs to activate a Low-Inventory warning.
  • Inventory can be adjusted manually at any time.
  • To activate the option email feature, enter an email address in the Notification box in the lower left corner and click the Save button. Please note: this requires an email program to be installed and set up on the QuickScan II. Contact your IT Department to set up an email account.

As you can see, this feature can be a game changer in your site management, giving you the freedom to focus on the other important aspects of your business.

If you have a QuickScan II and want help implementing this feature, call Technical Support at (866) 408-4597 ext. 2, or email us at techsupport@envirologix.com.

If you’re interested in ordering a QuickScan II, call (866) 408-4597, ext. 1, or email us at info@envirologix.com.

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QuickScan II AOAC certified with DON Flex

Posted on by Brian Harris

121701 EnviroLogix QuickScan DONflexPortland, ME, August 7, 2018 – Portland, Maine. EnviroLogix Inc. is pleased to announce that its newest QuickScan II Reader System (ACC-331) has been certified through the AOAC® Performance Tested Methods℠ Program for use with the DON Flex mycotoxin kit (Cat. No. AQ-304-BG; AOAC® PTM #121701).

QuickScan II SystemThe QuickScan II System is validated for testing commodities destined for human consumption and animal feed.

According to Alex Miller, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at EnviroLogix, “We continue to take our mycotoxin kits and reader systems through the AOAC PTM process to provide our customers with the added confidence that comes with certification from this globally recognized association. EnviroLogix products, including our newest QuickScan II Reader System, offer best in class performance and reproducibility; approval through AOAC helps to bring awareness to this.”

AOAC International (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) is an international association and voluntary consensus standards developing organization. QuickTox StripsAOAC standards are used globally to promote trade and to facilitate public health and safety.

For more information…

  • Learn more about the QuickScan II Reader System (ACC-331).
  • Learn more about the DON Flex mycotoxin kit (Cat. No. AQ-304-BG).
  • Learn more about AOAC International and AOAC certification.

EnviroLogix Announces QuickScan II

Posted on by Brian Harris

EnviroLogix Inc.’s history as a technology innovator for the global agricultural diagnostic markets continues with the introduction of the next generation QuickScan II instrument for quantitative GMO and mycotoxin testing.

Portland, ME, July 9, 2018 – EnviroLogix Inc. launched QuickScan II, the next generation scanner for quantifying GMOs and mycotoxins (such as aflatoxin) for the grain, processing, and feed industries. The QuickScan platform was built for rapid detection of GMOs and mycotoxins in crops critical to the grain, distilling, ethanol processing, livestock feed, and pet food industries.

“With the introduction of the QuickScan II, EnviroLogix is delivering enhanced features and capability to our already best-in-class quantitative GMO and mycotoxin testing platform.” said Bill Welch, President of EnviroLogix Inc.. “Our partnership with the world’s leading seed, grain, animal feed, and pet food providers enables us to uniquely understand their increasing demand for improving operational efficiencies. The QuickScan II provides enhancements to meet these needs on a platform they already know and trust.”

QuickScan II extends the platform’s robust offering to improve operational efficiency. The instrument boasts expanded testing capabilities within a streamlined footprint; bringing exciting new functionality and an expanded test carrier that allows up to 22 tests to be scanned simultaneously, while requiring less space in the testing environment.

As data management needs evolve, QuickScan II enhances the platform’s capabilities for inventory tracking, quality measurement, and offering refined graphics and analytics for better decision making.

Across the markets EnviroLogix serves, the demand for stricter compliance is always rising. To aid in driving compliance, the QuickScan II expands the platform’s functionality, including user authentication, enhanced intelligence for flagging duplicate reads, and maintenance reminders and enforcement.

According to Jason Lee, Senior Business Unit Manager, “QuickScan II offers our customers benefits throughout their organization, making their jobs easier while facilitating improvements in efficiency and traceability; giving added confidence that they’re delivering on their quality standards.”

EnviroLogix Inc. is a leading producer of mycotoxin and GMO tests serving the food and feed safety market. The company continues to provide innovative solutions to its markets and was the first to offer LFD technology for mycotoxin screening in grain. EnviroLogix’s commitment to scientific innovation and providing exceptional solutions for today’s identity-preservation and food-safety environments remains at the forefront with the introduction of QuickScan II.

New GMO Soy Traits

Posted on by Brian Harris

More and more US farmers are electing to plant soybean varieties with multiple modes of herbicide tolerance. Stacking these herbicide traits in soy gives farmers the flexibility to use the most effective chemical tools available to control a broad spectrum of weeds.

In addition to flexibility, the use of multiple herbicides with different sites of action also allows farmers to help control the propagation of herbicide resistant weeds, a major challenge facing the industry. Two new herbicide resistant soybean varieties have been developed and are being released to the US market: Balance GT soybeans and Enlist E3 soybeans. The Enlist E3 soybean is tolerant to the following herbicides: 2,4-D Choline (2,4-D), Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup), and Glufosinate (Liberty). While Enlist soybeans have not received import approval from China, Enlist E3 soybeans have been planted this year in a closed-loop program administered by DOW and ADM for the domestic soy market. Enlist E3 soybeans can be detected with the EnviroLogix LibertyLink (PAT/pat) lateral flow strip included in the bulk soybean QuickComb.

MS Technologies, Bayer, and Mertec LLC have collaborated to develop the Balance GT soybean system. The foreign import permits have been received for this variety but the US EPA has not approved the new herbicide utilized, Isoxaflutole. The Balance GT variety will be a stack of 2mepsps to allow for glyphosate resistance and HPPD w336 which allows for resistance to Isoxaflutole. In 2019 a Balance variety will be released that includes an additional trait allowing for resistance to a 3rd herbicide, Liberty.

What do these new soy varieties mean for organizations involved with the origination of Non-GMO soybeans? The EnviroLogix QuickComb kit for bulk soybeans provides complete trait detection coverage for the 2018 harvest to insure the success of your Non-GMO program.

Questions? Need sampling plan development guidance? Rely on EnviroLogix and its decades of industry support and innovation to insure your success.

 

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Q2’18 Tech Tip from EnviroLogix Tech Support

Posted on by Brian Harris

Sampling

Getting ready for the busy season means planning for how to receive grain. Let’s examine the statistics of grain sampling. When you’re testing a truck or a barge, you unfortunately can’t test every kernel or bean. When you’re testing inbound corn or beans, the best outcome you can have is a fair reading for each particular truck. The goal is for the sample you take to test to be as close as possible to a representation of the truck’s true score. When we accomplish this, the farmer gets their well-deserved premium for the hard work of growing a quality crop, and you can be confident the material you’re moving downstream is of the highest quality and satisfies your customers’ needs. If there are low levels of GMOs or mycotoxins present on that truck, you want to sample enough grain, and from enough places on the truck, to find them.

So, how do we find low levels of GMOs or mycotoxins? In sampling, size matters! If you only sample a small amount from only one corner of the shipment, there’s a very good chance you won’t find them. You’re better off looking at grain from each corner, and even the middle of the shipment. When you’re sampling a truck, take as large a sample as you can reasonably handle. We suggest a 3 to 4-pound sample. If you always look for GMOs or mycotoxins in the same spot in every shipment, you’re far less likely to find them. Make sure you are probing 3 to 7 different spots with your hydraulic probe. See the diagram at right for examples.

Push the probe to the bottom, open it, and draw up. To the same point you want to mix that 3 to 4-pound sample as much as possible. Put the sample over a divider and grind as much as is practical in your probe stand (the GIPSA Sampling handbook can be found here).

Weigh out the sample you will test, and with this fair sampling, you can be more confident you’re providing the best answer possible for both your company, and for the farmer. If the sample is close to cutoff (for example, a 1.1% where your cutoff is 1%), and you have the time, take a second sample from your collected corn or beans, regrind, and retest. Go with the average score of the two tests (not the better of the two scores). The best way to keep our growers happy, and to continue providing product for Identity Preservation programs, is to sample fairly and to properly detect GMOs or mycotoxins when they can be found.

Download a primer for sampling grain from a flat-bottom truck.

 

Proper Pipette Position

The best way to be fair in your testing is to perform the protocol as accurately as possible. When using your mini-pipette, make sure you hold it plumb vertically.

Tipping to the side can cause the liquid to roll back into the pipette, further reducing your accuracy and quality of testing.

If you ever have any questions, or just want to talk to someone about your testing, Tech Service is here for you.

Give us a call at (866)408-4597 X 2, or email techsupport@envirologix.com.

 

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World GMO Cultivation

Posted on by Susan Whipkey
Chart Showing World GMO Culivation by Domestic and Imported Percentages
Growing percentage of U.S.
organic commodities from import
Demand for organic soybeans and corn is outpacing domestic supply, causing an increase in imported organic commodities, and a subsequent requirement for heightened testing.

Did you know that U.S. grain imports are on the rise? The increasing consumer demand for organic and non-GMO foods has exposed a shortfall in the U.S. supply chain. Even as domestic acreage devoted to organic soybeans and corn is increasing, production remains well short of demand.

The complex risk/reward calculation, as well as the multi-year commitment, has made it tough on US farmers to commit to joining the market. An additional 1 to 5 million acres would need to be converted to meet demand. Added to that, a ready supply of these commodities on the world market from countries such as Turkey, India, Ukraine and Romania keep a damper on market premiums for these commodities.

Unfortunately, it has also led to less-than-honest business practices, if not outright fraud, within the international supply chain. The Washington Post recently identified several shipments of grain that showed conventional pricing at the point of purchase that were inexplicably identified as organic when they reached the U.S.—and proven to not conform to the organic standard.

The truth is, there is very little confirmation testing when organic and non-GMO shipments are received; the documentation provided is relied upon, endangering the integrity of all downstream usage. Imported grain gets shuttled in numerous ways through various transit points with little traceability.

Though you are familiar with what crops are grown in your area, as well as your domestic partners supplying grain, there are many ways that your supply chain can be infiltrated with commodities from unknown sources. Reliance on paperwork and handshakes can severely compromise your product as well as your reputation.

EnviroLogix is committed to getting you the answers you need to ensure that you can reliably participate in non-GMO markets, with world-class GMO test coverage and traceable, quantifiable results for corn and soy, as well as canola, alfalfa and more. Test with confidence and get your own answers, insuring your own claims and reputation.

Want a GMO test? We have them available for the crops above and more…

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USDA Releases Proposed GMO Labeling Rules

Posted on by Brian Harris

Congress enacted The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard Law on July 29, 2016; and more recently the USDA released a proposed rule regarding the labeling of bioengineered foods and how this should be communicated to the public. The standard is currently open for public comment. Per Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue “We are looking for public input on a number of these key decisions before a final rule is issued later this year.” The 60-day open comment period will be closing on July 3rd. The proposed rule can be viewed and comments can be submitted here. Some of the important points that the USDA is looking for public comment on are:

  • Definition of bioengineered: will new genetic techniques like genetic editing (CRISPR, TALEN, etc.), RNAi, and others require labeling?
  • Will highly refined ingredients that originate from bioengineered foods, but do not have nucleic products that can be detected via common test methods, require labeling?
  • At what threshold are products considered bioengineered? 0.9%, 5%, and 10% have been proposed.
  • Will bioengineered levels be determined by ingredient or by product weight?
  • How will the bioengineered label be communicated to consumers: text claims, digital codes (QR), symbols, or text message based inquiries?

More information from the USDA on the National Bioengineering Food Disclosure Law is available via a pre-recorded webinar found here.

As you contemplate the impact that the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law may have on your organizations, use EnviroLogix as an informed industry resource. We’re here to supply the diagnostic solutions and implementation guidance to insure your organization is well positioned to comply with this new law.

 

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Report from the CRISPR-Ag Bio Conference

Posted on by Brian Harris

On March 28, USDA Secretary Perdue issued a statement clarifying the department’s oversight of plants produced by new gene editing techniques, including CRISPR. With the USDA’s focus on protecting plant health, gene edited plants that do not contain genetic material from ‘plant pests’, such as viral DNA, will not require their standard regulatory process.

At the recent CRISPR-Ag Bio conference in San Diego, California, several representatives from the USDA spoke about the Secretary’s statement and regulatory status of gene edited plants. The speakers emphasized the USDA’s stance to regulate products, not processes. This is not unfamiliar territory – plants that have been exposed to mutation-inducing chemicals or radiation are not subject to the USDA regulatory process because the mutations induced are not derived from plant pests and are comparable to genetic changes that occur naturally in plants.

Gene edited crops that fall into one of the following categories are likewise considered comparable to natural genetic change:

  1. Sequence deletions
  2. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
  3. Sequence introduction from a compatible organism
  4. Complete null segregants

The USDA also emphasized their commitment to providing regulatory certainty to the agricultural community. The department is looking to develop a framework for regulation that adapts to future innovation, includes “off-ramps” for plants that do not require plant health regulation, and ensures that neither the department, nor plant breeders and innovators waste time in repetitive reviews. The USDA is, of course, a government agency that welcomes comments and input from the agricultural community on policy and procedures – during their talks, the speakers emphasized that they seek unique comments and input. Although an adjacent process to plant health regulation, the USDA is in the open comment period through July 3rd for the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Act.

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Test DDGS for Mycotoxins Due to Increased Risk This Year

Posted on by Brian Harris

Although ethanol plants don’t need to check every incoming truck for every mycotoxin, it is good practice to screen the first incoming loads of harvested corn carefully to get a sense of the mycotoxins that might be present in newly-harvested corn. The mycotoxins of most concern are Aflatoxin, Vomitoxin (DON), and Fumonisin.  Testing for mycotoxins in ethanol plants isn’t new. It was implemented in most facilities when a secondary market for feed was found for the byproduct of ethanol production, DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles).

Screening for mycotoxins appears to be especially important this year; double-digit percentages of corn in “poor” and “very poor” condition are being reported in 9 states responsible for 70% of the US corn production, according to the latest USDA/NASS 2017 Crop Progress and Condition Report (see graphic).

In other words, conditions are ripe, and it is important to test DDGS for harmful mycotoxins.

Feed markets have very strict guidelines about the levels of mycotoxins present. With the multiplicative effect of corn ethanol production, even small amounts of mycotoxins coming into the plant can be magnified to reportable levels in the end product. And because each mycotoxin has known negative health impacts in animals, each has individual limits that vary according to species and age.

Added to that, the new guidelines for complying with the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) require testing and traceability of feed components. Plants with robust quality systems have been able to utilize existing systems to comply with the requirements for analyzing hazards and reporting results. But FSMA does not give guidance as to how frequently or comprehensively to test.

In general, getting a comprehensive baseline for a season can help quality managers set their testing frequencies and cutoffs for any particular year, and support the justification for that testing. Supplementary testing of homogeneous DDGS can provide additional data points and confirmation of good quality screening of incoming materials. That approach provides the basis for complying with the requirements and intention of FSMA.

Along with offering mycotoxin tests for corn and DDGS, EnviroLogix has introduced Common Extraction  testing for Aflatoxin, DON and Fumonisin that will allow for one sample preparation and a common run time when testing for these three mycotoxins in incoming corn.

The resulting operational efficiency streamlines early-season testing, and our world-class QuickScan System provides unparalleled quantification and traceability.  Contact us today to find out how you can take advantage of time-saving Common Extraction mycotoxin testing.

Our Take on the 2017 USDA Acreage Report

Posted on by Brian Harris

A lot of interesting reports are coming out of the USDA at this time of year. The USDA Acreage report confirmed the data from the prior quarter’s Prospective Plantings report: corn acres are down, soy acres are at a record high, wheat acres are at a long-time low, and cotton acres are up.

More acreage planted to soybeans seemed like a sure bet last year during planning in the US, particularly since the lower input cost was attractive to farmers on the edge of profitability. However, it will be very interesting to see if the world’s demand for soybeans can keep up with production. US prices remain strong so far, with some contract highs for beans and meal, but analysts expect that soy prices will settle back down as the world demand for soybeans is strongly served by Brazil and Argentina. With both countries facing faltering economies, selling commodities for dollars is a hedge against inflation of their native currencies. Brazil is on pace for record-setting soybean production, exceeding all predictions with excellent yields despite slightly lower acreage.

Acreage also reports the area planted to biotechnology varieties, and whether those varieties are Insect Resistant (IR), Herbicide Tolerant (HT), or stacked with both. This year is pretty much on par with 2015 and 2016 as far as the limited but steady percentage of non-GMO acreage. It has been interesting over the years to see the rise in biotech acreage, as well as the growing popularity of stacked varieties.

USDA acreage report charts

USDA FGIS (formerly GIPSA) Sampling and Testing Guides

Posted on by Brian Harris

Understanding the quality and condition of your grain is critical, and accurate sampling at many points along the grain chain is necessary to ensure that confidence.

Perhaps the most important aspect of any grain-testing program is obtaining a representative sample from the truck or barge being tested. The USDA has outlined guidelines for effective sampling in a document called Inspecting Grain: Practical Procedures for Grain Handlers.

Section I of the document addresses the importance of proper sampling techniques in order to obtain representative grain samples. They recommend taking at least two probe samples from lots that are 600 bushels or less. For larger lots, draw at least three probe samples. Probe samples should be drawn at random locations from grain sampled at rest, using hand or mechanical probes. Refer to the USDA website for further information on representative sampling methods, techniques and materials.

Once a representative sample is obtained it will be helpful to obtain a smaller yet representative sub-sample for use in the test. A splitter can be used to randomly separate the probe sample(s). By repeatedly taking one of the resulting split samples and re-running it through the splitter, the sample can be reduced to a manageable size for grinding and blending, while still maintaining the representativeness of the original sample.

Alternatively, if using a larger capacity grinder, the entire probe sample can be ground and a representative sample taken from the uniform ground probe sample.