“Kutka’s research focuses on naturally occurring traits found in popcorns and the ancient grain teosinte that make it difficult for GMO pollen to enter the corn silks, thus preventing cross-pollination.” writes Roseboro. “The trait is known as gametophytic incompatibility or Ga1S, and is not a new discovery, according to Kutka.” He says it was first used in popcorn in the 1950s and in white corn in the 1970s. Kutka also works with another pollen-blocking trait, Ga2S, found in the corn ancestor teosinte.
In a play on Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” GMO corn, Kutka refers to his varieties as Organic Ready. He hopes to release some seed varieties of open pollinated Organic Ready in 2015. Roseboro says an Iowa company has had an organic pollen-blocking hybrid corn on the market for three years. It uses a patented trait. Kutka plans to put his varieties into the public domain and prevent them from being patented.