b'Wulfkuhle says interest in non-GM corn appeared to ramp up a couple of years ago when some independ-ent seed companies began adding conventional hybrids as part of their portfolio and is continuing to accelerate. More than 90 per cent of the farmers buying FBNs F2F Genetics Network conventional hybrids planted only traited corn in recent years. A number of farmers have said, I think its aboutWITH THE CHANGE IN COMMODITY PRICES ITS time I picked a couple of fields or a couple of farms REALLY CAUSING FARMERS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT depending on the size of their operationand give it a try so I get some experience should it be something ITHEY CAN DO TO RAISE A CONVENTIONAL CROP could do on my whole farm, he says. While the acres may increase by only single digits in North America, I(AND) NOT HAVE TO PAY ALL THE MONEY UPFRONT. would suggest the number of farms will increase pretty Ron Wulfkuhledramatically in that they are trying just a little bit.MarketsSo what does all this interest in non-GM corn and soy-bean mean for the seed market?Potentially, quite a bit, according to FBNs Wulfkuhle, the former head of Syngentas GreenLeaf Genetics. That could be especially true for smaller, independent seedEnd Users and Consumerssellers, he says. The increased interest in non-GM soybean and corn Its a bit easier for smaller seed companies or newcould also be good news for end users like Ingredion entrants like FBN to step in and service that market thanCanada, which turns grains and other plant materials if Im an established seed business and Im already receiv- into value-added ingredients and biomaterial for food ing lots of revenue off of traited products, he says. and beverage products. The company began exploring Phil Bailey, eastern business manager for SeCanthethe market for non-GM corn at its eastern Ontario plant, largest supplier of certified seed in Canadasays seedone of two Canadian facilities, back in 2015. It has since breeding and quality hold the key to the future of thesigned up a number of growers to participate in its True non-GM market for farmers in this country. To that end,Trace program, which documents the corn all the way his company is investing heavily in research into conven- from the seed stage to when its transported to its plant. tional soybeans that will provide clear hilum and highThe non-GM corn is used in a host of products including protein levels that will be able to compete in Ontario andsweeteners, salad dressing and specialty starches.Quebec. Certainly the pace of change that is happening in the What were looking for is to try and breed a soybeanfood industry right now is very much happening at an thats going to give us competitive yields and still give usaccelerated pace, says Becca Hary, director of corporate a protein level where it needs to be. Theres been somecommunications for Ingredion Canada.advances there and its exciting, Bailey says. There areThe trend towards non-GMO ingredients in food also some products coming that seem to be breaking that bar- creates some opportunities. As we are seeing this trend rier. and knowing its going to continue being something that There could also be interest in those seed productsend consumers are looking for, we have really aligned overseas. In Ukraine, for example, there is growingour company to be able to capitalize on that and be an interest in conventional soybeans among farmers in thatenabler of innovation and different types of ingredients country, Bailey notes. Ukraine could be a good match forthat will meet their needs.Canadian soybean varieties as they have relative matu- Tom Lynch, Ingredions field contracting agent in rity schedules that match up well. A number of SeCanCanada, says seed growers will play an integral role in member companies have already begun running trialsgrowing this segment of the agricultural sector. and commercializing products for use in Ukraine. Obviously, [the goal] of any successful program The opportunity there is massive, Bailey says. Thelike this is seed production, he says, adding Ingredion challenge in Ukraine is enforcement of intellectual prop- is having ongoing discussions with several major seed erty. You can sign a deal with someone and send yourcompanies to ensure there is a readily available supply of material over there and then find out its being grown onnon-GM seed and find growers who are a good fit with hundreds of thousands of acres but youre not getting anyhis companys goals and objectives. return on your intellectual property. with files from Kari Belanger 6GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2020'