Illinois SoySelect Program
As international and domestic customers increase demand for soybeans with specific attributes, they will also seek detailed soybean trait information.
A Checkoff-funded electronic information and certification system known as Illinois SoySelect is an identity-preserved (IP) system that can be used to track and audit the production and delivery of Illinois value-added soybeans to processors or river terminals. The system provides information on critical on-farm and handler quality-control points for IP systems, and it has third-party auditing capability and regulatory oversight functions in development.
To meet consumer needs, SoySelect is shifting its focus beyond that of just an IP system. It will be enhanced to include more elements of traceability that can address market concerns focused around food safety issues.
While SoySelect's Internet-based system was designed for farmers to directly input system verification details, the final phase of development will focus on first purchaser protocol for tracking movement and storage of grain up to the point of output to a truck, railcar, barge, or bag. Other commodities are currently considering the use of SoySelect for electronic tracking within their traceability systems as well. Quite possibly, SoySelect will be adopted as a traceability model for other systems to address consumer demand for various levels of tracking food origination. A web site is being developed.