As the quality requirements for food, feed and fiber products become more stringent, programs designed to help producers, processors and end-users assure the quality of those products will also become increasingly important.
Identity Preserved (IP) refers to the certification of a product’s specific traits or characteristics through production, processing and marketing channels. The purpose of an IP program is to assist in preserving the genetic and/or physical identity of a product by providing traceable identification of a field crop from the source of seed used for planting, through production, storage and marketing. IP programs are useful for crop varieties with specific traits that are value-added or intended to be segregated from bulk commodity production.
IP programs are voluntary and market driven. Programs may be customized to the specific needs of the customer. The unbiased, third-party oversight by the North Dakota State Seed Department assures IP partners of practical, cost effective programs.
The NDSSD IP program complies with the general Identity Preserved guidelines developed by the Association of Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). The IP logo is a recognized AOSCA trademark used by all member agencies and customers around the world to differentiate IP products from commodities. Program participants must meet specific requirements in order to use the AOSCA IP logo.
Basic IP program requirements include:
- Variety eligibility
- Field inspection
- Laboratory testing
- Product handling
- Product labeling
- Record keeping
Contact the North Dakota State Seed Department for more information on Identity Preserved programs to meet your needs.