In today’s rapidly evolving agricultural marketplace, plant breeders are under increasing pressure to develop crops that not only meet agronomic performance standards but also satisfy the growing demand for grain quality tailored to specific end uses. From food-grade applications to biofuel production, the composition and processing characteristics of grains have never been more important. Illinois Crop Improvement Association’s Identity Preserved Grain (IPG) Lab is uniquely positioned to support plant breeders in this mission by offering a suite of analytical and testing services uniquely positioned with a long history of identity preserved work for the seed and grain industries.
Whether you’re working with corn, soybeans, wheat, dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS), meals, flours, or other niche-market crops, the IPG Lab delivers actionable data that can help you refine breeding targets and validate product performance. By leveraging these insights, breeders can gain a competitive edge in developing high-value, identity-preserved grain products optimized for a range of industries.
Grain composition is the cornerstone of value-added breeding programs. Breeders aiming to serve specialty markets must go beyond yield metrics and focus on the specific physical and chemical traits that define grain quality. These traits can include:
- Protein content and quality for feed and food applications
- Oil concentration for biofuel and culinary uses
- Starch characteristics for dry and wet milling
- Fiber content for animal feed efficiency
- Moisture levels that affect storage and processing stability
Tailoring these components begins with comprehensive phenotypic analysis and ends with fine-tuned genetics. Illinois Crop Improvement’s IPG Lab bridges this gap with tools designed to support both the discovery and deployment phases of breeding.
To meet the unique demands of identity-preserved grain markets, the IPG Lab offers a range of performance testing services. These help plant breeders align genetic traits with end-use specifications, ensuring optimal quality from seed to shelf.
For breeders targeting the human food market, the IPG Lab’s food-grade test bundles evaluate critical attributes like nutritional composition and processing ability at scale. Whether it’s white corn for tortilla production or soybeans for tofu, food processors expect grains to meet their standards. The lab’s detailed assessments help breeders zero in on the desired characteristics for these high-value applications.
Illinois Crop Improvement’s IPG Lab understands that no two breeding programs are alike. The lab supports customization in both testing protocols and reporting to accommodate the specific goals of its clients. The IPG Lab services are designed to provide the performance insights you need.
Additionally, Illinois Crop supports a wide range of crop types, including:
- Corn: For food-grade, feed, and fuel uses
- Soybeans: For oil, protein, food, and industrial purposes
- Wheat: Evaluated for milling, baking, and nutritional value
- DDGS and Meals: As co-products of biofuel and oilseed crushing, these are analyzed for nutrient profile and consistency
- Flours and Derivatives: Used in processed foods and specialty baking applications
This diversity allows breeders to test not only the raw grain but also its processed derivatives, offering a complete picture of end-use performance.
The path from early-stage breeding to full-scale commercialization is complex, but data from the IPG Lab can streamline decision-making and reduce time to market. By identifying promising germplasm early in the pipeline, breeders can accelerate the development of value-added varieties and minimize costly late-stage rework.
Moreover, the lab’s analytical capabilities support quality assurance and identity preservation protocols throughout the grain supply chain. This is essential for breeders working with contract growers or commercial partners who require traceability and consistency.
