DNA analysis to identify soybean, barley varieties in expanded seed verification service

The Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency is introducing a new DNA-based service to identify soybean and barley varieties. The agency plans to expand its variety verification service — previously covering rice and wheat — to include soybeans and barley, strengthening seed quality management and the foundation for food security.

The agency announced Thursday that it will launch the variety verification service for soybeans and barley in the second half of this year.

The service uses DNA marker analysis technology developed by the National Seed Institute to scientifically verify the purity of 13 domestic soybean varieties and 52 barley varieties.

Demand for objective variety verification has grown as soybean and barley cultivation areas and retail volumes have expanded under policies aimed at strengthening food security and boosting consumption of domestically grown produce. The growth of contract farming and the processing industry has also been cited as a factor driving the need for tighter variety management.

The service uses genetic analysis to identify seeds that are difficult to distinguish by the naked eye, helping prevent variety mixing and seed substitution. The agency expects the service to improve seed reliability and quality consistency.

Accurate variety management is directly tied to industrial competitiveness. Soybeans have different quality characteristics depending on their intended use — tofu, fermented sauces or soy milk — while barley is used across a wide range of industries, including beer production, processed foods and animal feed.

"The soybean and barley variety verification service will serve as a foundation for systematically managing the quality of major food crops," agency head Lee Seok-hyeong said. "We will contribute to the production of high-quality seeds and the strengthening of food security based on our scientific analysis capabilities."