AN INITIAL LOOK AT THE TOKYO GRAIN EXCHANGE NON-GMO SOYBEAN CONTRACT

Abstract

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as soybeans and corn have garnered considerable consumer attention due to the concern over potential effects from using these commodities as inputs into food production. In the simplest form, segregation of bioengineered and non-bioengineered crops is an identity-preserved system. For these identity-preserved systems to exist, there must be a market discovery mechanism in place whereby supply and demand factors interact to establish a market price. In May 2000, the Tokyo Grain Exchange began a nongenetically modified organism (non-GMO) soybean contract. This article describes information garnered from the first public-offered identity-preserved marketplace.