Forget nay-sayer 'doom and gloom'. Crops developed without genetic engineering or genetically-modified organism technology are on the rise – not being weeded out. While their market share is small, it's steadily growing.

Farm Progress recently queried a number of seed companies on availability. Here's what we found:

Farmers, seed industry and food manufacturers all see dollar-signs as demand for non-GMO crops grows. GMO-free corn, soybeans, cereal crops, even vegetables are being developed via conventional plant breeding and being marketed – even by major biotech companies.

NON-GMO OR NO? Seed companies are increasing supplies of conventionally bred or non-GMO commodity crops and vegetable products for a growing market demand.

Seed Consultants, Inc., reports that 25 to 30% of their corn hybrids sold are convention and non-GMO. Approximately 3 to 4% of its soybeans are non-GMO. "Growers typically plant non-GMOs if they see little or no advantage to trait hybrids, since there's a seed cost advantage," explains General Manager Chris Jeffries.

About 35% of T.A. Seed's seed corn is non-GMO, according to CEO Taylor Doebler. "But we don't have organic seed corn," he adds.

King's AgriSeeds has many non-GMO products including non-GMO/conventional corn hybrids and soybeans, says Rodney Porter, sales and support manager for the company. "We think the non-GMO position has legs. It's not as stringent and costly as organically produced seed."

Smaller seed companies across the central Corn Belt are also on top of this market for corn and soybeans. The non-GMO phenomenon is on the radar of every seed company.

"We're hearing more and more about non-GMO," notes Fred Lepley, Hubner Seed's eastern regional sales manager. "We have a few conventional hybrids and will have an expanded availability next year." Even so, he adds, "I just hate to see growers go back to soil insecticides due to personal exposure and environmental issues."

Vegetables too
Non-GMO crops developed by conventional plant breeding are being harnessed by Seminis, a vegetable seed company owned by Monsanto. And Syngenta, plus other biotech companies, are working on non-GMO wheat varieties to capture higher value for organic foods. Organic foods are primarily marketed to the higher-income portion of society.

So don't believe everything you hear about "big bad chemical companies" driving non-GMOs into extinction. They're not "plugged in" to what's really happening.

Many unresolved issues
Growth of 100% GMO-free food products has a long way to go, though. Crop contamination is a major risk, so much so that even General Mills has a disclaimer on its Cheerios label to the effect: Not made with genetically modified ingredients, but GM material may be present.

Then there are identity preservation storage issues to deal with. And are the seed treatments, fungicides and herbicides applied to non-GMO plants considered GMO-free? Finally, will the market pay enough premiums to justify the extra management?

The answers are coming. And, GMO-free feed, milk and poultry markets are developing. Catch more details in May's American Agriculturist issue.