In 2001, GIPSA established a biotechnology reference laboratory at its Technical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Working with grain handlers, test manufacturers, and life science organizations, GIPSA is facilitating the marketing of U.S. grains and oilseeds by ensuring the availability of reliable tests.
Under this program, GIPSA evaluates the performance of rapid tests developed to detect biotechnology-derived grains and oilseeds, and confirms the tests operate in accordance with manufacturers' claims. This program was initially used to evaluate rapid tests developed to detect the presence of the Cry9C protein produced in StarLink(TM) corn.
On February 7, 2002, the USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) began offering a
Proficiency Program to organizations testing for biotechnology-derived grains and oilseeds. This program will help these organizations identify areas of concern and take corrective actions to improve testing capability and reliability. Through this program, USDA seeks to improve the overall performance of testing for biotechnology-derived grains and oilseeds in the United States.
Participants in the GIPSA Proficiency Program must provide the following information to the GIPSA Biotechnology Program Manager listed below. This communication can be by letter or e-mail:
For more information on this program or to participate contact Lynn Polston at 816-891-0444,or by e-mail at biotech-lab@usda.gov
Recognizing that sampling is the single largest source of error in the analysis of grains, GIPSA developed and offered sampling guidelines to the grain-handling industry.
