Corn Steep Liquor
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In ThIS Issue Director’s Chair . 2 NOP Materials Update . 3 Materials Q&A . 4 Understanding Materials FIFRA . 7 r e v i e w Calendar . 8 News and Information for the Organic Community Spring 2010 Corn Steep Liquor California’s New Issues for the Spring NOSB meeting Fertilizer Law The future for input review? he National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has created an aggressive agenda t has been a tumultuous year for T for the upcoming Spring meeting, addressing some major issues such as the syn- I organic fertilizer inputs. Organic thetic/nonsynthetic classification of corn steep liquor (CSL). Corn steep liquor (aka input materials have come under condensed fermented corn extractives) is a by-product of the corn wet-milling process. greater scrutiny, beginning with the According to the Corn Refiners Association, “CSL is a viscous liquid February 20 and July 27 notices mixture consisting entirely of water-soluble components from the National Organic Program of corn steeped in water” (Corn Refiners Association, (NOP) disallowing five specific liq- 2008). Since the corn kernel is a complex mixture of uid fertilizers for use in organic starch, protein, oil, water, fiber, minerals and vita- production and continuing mins, the corn wet-milling process yields many with the later prohibition widely used products such as corn oil, corn of three compost brands germ meal, cornstarch, and high fructose by the California De- corn syrup. In order to make corn steep li- partment of Food and quor, the corn is soaked (steeped) in 120°F Agriculture (CDFA). to 130°F water containing 0.1%-0.2% sul- Yet many in the organ- fur dioxide for 24-48 hours. The sulfurous ic industry agree that acid that is then formed induces chemical increasing oversight on and physical changes in the kernel, in effect only a few classes of fer- separating the starch and insoluble protein by tilizers is an inadequate cleaving protein disulfide cross-links in the en- and unbalanced approach dosperm protein matrix. The sulfurous acid also to the mission of ensuring helps to control undesirable microorganisms and compliance of inputs used allows dissolved sugars to be converted to lactic acid, in organic production. Officials maintaining a pH near 4.0. During the steeping process, from the NOP have communicated about 6% of the dry weight is dissolved, which is then evaporated the need for more rigorous oversight The corn to condense the steepwater into corn steep liquor. The remaining insolu- wet-milling of inputs used in organic produc- ble corn kernel is then further processed to produce many products used process yields tion, and have expressed interest in in foods, livestock feeds and fertilizers. many widely using the new “organic fertilizer” law In the past, OMRI had reviewed CSL and determined it to be non- used products. recently passed in California as a na- synthetic. However, the NOSB’s recent refinement of the definitions for tional model for regulating organic synthetic vs. nonsynthetic substances caused us to revisit that decision to material inputs. Could the California Corn Steep Liquor continued on page 6 California Law continued on page 3 R’S CH TO AI C R E R I FD rom the director’s Chair By Ramkrishnan P. Balasubramanian, OMRI Board of Directors OMRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization any of you may be aware of recent formed a search committee and is actively created to benefit the organic community and M changes in management at OMRI. engaged in conducting a thorough search the general public. Its mission is to provide Dave DeCou, who has led the organiza- and selection process for a permanent Ex- professional, independent, and transparent review of materials and processes to tion for the previous 5 years, is no longer ecutive Director. determine their suitability for producing, with OMRI and has moved on to pursue We are excited about the future at processing, and handling organic food and other interests. Under Dave’s leadership, OMRI and are continually working to fiber. OMRI is a member of the Organic Trade Association and of the International Federation OMRI accomplished many things such as maintain OMRI’s position as the premier of Organic Agricultural Movements. developing and implementing the OMRI materials evaluation program. The OMRI Board of DirectorS Seeds Database and obtaining ISO Guide staff is a committed group of individuals Officers: 65 Accreditation. The organization has who have dedicated their time to support- Chair: Ramkrishnan P. Balasubramanian benefited from his leadership and vision ing the organic industry and are working Vice-Chair: Katherine Withey Secretary: Mark Whalon and will continue to look toward the fu- hard to ensure our goals are met. We have Treasurer: Bob Scott ture as the premier materials evaluation recently implemented a new website so Members: Cissy Bowman, Jenneke DeJong, Jake Lewin, program in the U.S. our customers and the organic industry Salvatore (Sandy) Parco, Jennifer Ryder Fox, The leadership of OMRI is now in the can access critical information regarding Eric Sideman, Bill Stoneman, and capable hands of Paul Lipscomb, who has seeds and material inputs in a more effi- Catherine (Anne) Wells assumed the role of Interim Executive Di- cient manner. We will continue to solidify STaff rector. Paul has our relationship Interim Executive Director: Paul Lipscomb Review Program Manager: Renee Mann extensive experi- with the National Technical Director/Quality Manager: ence in working We are excited about the Organic Program, Lindsay Fernandez-Salvador with non-profit streamline our ap- IT Director: Brian Basor future at OMRI and are Marketing and Communications Coordinator: organizations and plication process- continually working to Amy Bradsher is particularly es, and continue Application Specialist: Amber Lippert maintain OMRI’s position Product Review Coordinators: skilled in organi- to provide excel- Tina Jensen Augustine, Andrea (Gwen) zational planning as the premier material lent customer ser- Ayres, Jennifer M. Schomp, Deder Siedler, and cooperative vice. We are hard and Annie Amos evaluation program. Review Program Assistants: Jean Schauerman, team building. at work for you. Andria Schulze Under Paul’s lead- If you have feed- Program Asst/Project Asst: Ashley Wright ership, OMRI will continue to meet the back, suggestions or comments, please Renewals Coordinator: Cindy Coachman Bookkeeper: Melody Carr needs of its customers and the organic in- call Paul Lipscomb at (541) 343-7600 or Administrative Specialist: Blyss Hansen dustry. The OMRI Board of Directors has email [email protected]. OMRI Materials Review is published quar- terly by OMRI. Volume 12, Issue 2. Except for reprinted or copyrighted articles, subscribers Stepping In may reprint OMRI articles, provided that OMRI Introducing Paul Lipscomb, OMRI’s Interim Executive Director is given as the source. Reasonable efforts are made to provide useful and accurate Paul is a consultant, facilitator and trainer in board development, orga- information, but the editors and OMRI cannot nizational planning and executive leader development. For the past 10 assume any liability for errors or omissions. years, Paul has focused his work on providing interim executive leader- Assistant Editor: Keith L. Proctor ship and executive transition services. Paul is particularly interested in Design: Slub Design, www.slubdesign.com helping organizations work through the challenging issues of leadership oMrI transition and organizational change, bringing clarity to roles and struc- P.O. Box 11558 tures while building cooperative relationships. Paul has experience with Eugene, OR 97440-3758, USA a variety of cultures and organizations. He enjoys and has been very successful in assisting P: 541.343.7600 • F: 541.343.8971 organizations develop learning teams and shared leadership. [email protected] www.omri.org • seeds.omri.org 2 OMRI Materials Review California Law continued from page 1 NOP Materials update law become a national model for greater input oversight? The following is a synop- By Deder Siedler sis of the key elements of the California his January, NOP Deputy Director Deputy Director told the audience that law and a discussion of how it might affect T Miles McEvoy spoke at the EcoFarm he plans to get these issues moved from the organic industry. Conference in Asilomar, California. He the table to resolution. Per the Septem- The California bill (AB 8561) amends described ongoing efforts and changes ber 2008 NOSB recommendation, the existing California law by giving CDFA at the NOP and highlighted some recent NOP is evaluating tabled materials and jurisdiction over organic input materials in progress and new directions on materials determining if new technical reports are addition to conventional fertilizing materi- issues. Members of the OMRI staff were required. Some of these materials will als manufactured and distributed in Cali- present and we are pleased to report some require technical reports to inform the major movement on materials decisions NOSB’s decision. These reports are be- AB 856 now gives CDFA the and polices. ing compiled by the USDA Agricultural Deputy Director McEvoy made it clear Marketing Service (AMS), Science and right to revoke or refuse that a primary objective is to move forward Technology program. This program has registration of those materials on materials issues which continue to lin- completed 11 reports and six more are in that are not in compliance with ger at the NOP. Specifically, he spoke about progress. Seven other petitions