Non-GMO Project
Our idea is a voluntary labeling program giving consumers the right to choose non-GMO food and products. Working with a broad range of stakeholders, we have created a consensus-based Standard and a third-party verification program for non-GMO products. A “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal will identify compliant products starting this fall.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Non-GMO
Last Name
Project
Website
Organization
Non-GMO Project
Country
United States
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Non-GMO Project
Organization Website
Organization Phone
909.626.0809
Organization Address
2599 Huntington Drive, Upland CA 91786
Organization Country
United States
Your idea
Name Your Project
Non-GMO Project
Country your work focuses on
United States
What makes your approach innovative?
We are linking everyone in the North American supply chain (from seed companies to consumers) in a comprehensive, transparent, and rigorous process to ensure the sustained availability and clear labeling of non-GMO options. This is a ground-breaking solution that has never been attempted before.
The idea was initially conceived of by a group of natural food retailers. Over and over their customers were asking how to know if a product had GMOs in it. Without a industry-wide non-GMO standard, third party verification, and consistent labeling, the retailers had no way of answering their customers' questions, and that's why the Non-GMO Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was created. For the last several years, the Project's founding retailers, along with manufacturers, farmers, seed companies, distributors, processors and consumer advocacy groups have been working together to create an innovative program that provides North Americans the ability to choose verified non-GMO products.
Describe Your Idea
Our idea is a voluntary labeling program giving consumers the right to choose non-GMO food and products. Working with a broad range of stakeholders, we have created a consensus-based Standard and a third-party verification program for non-GMO products. A “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal will identify compliant products starting this fall.
How will you sustain your solution?
We have built a strong collaborative network, with over 60 people participating in the Project's governance through our Board of Directors, Technical Advisory Board, Communications Committee and Standard Committee. We also have over 30 companies all enrolled in our Product Verification Program. Having a diverse body of invested entities is central to the strength of the Project. Financially, although we have relied mostly on donations and grants until now, we are starting to see our operating expenses covered by revenue from the Product Verification Program, and that will increasingly continue to be the case. Lists of our Board and committee members, as well as all our donors, are publicly available on our website.
What will be the impact of your solution?
North Americans will no longer be the guinea pigs of GMO products, but will instead have the same right as people in Europe and elsewhere to avoid GMOs if they want to. Many people in the U.S. and Canada who don't yet know what a GMO is will learn, as they start seeing the "Non-GMO Project Verified" seal on products, and as our retailer programs reach them with education and information. Also, we have already heard from groups in countries like Brazil and Australia who are interested in using the Non-GMO Project model, and we hope to extend the program as soon as it is well established in North America.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Revised_Seal_copy.jpg | 375.06 KB |
 | 133 weeks agoNon-GMO Project has been chosen as a winner in GMO Risk or Rescue? Helping Consumers Decide. |
| 133 weeks agoCynthia Drayton updated this Competition Entry. |
| 134 weeks agoCharlie Brown said: How does your program work with others like Wal-Mart's planned green labeling program ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoMegan Westgate said: Voting has ended : ( But you can sign the consumer pledge on our website (http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers/consumer-pledge/) and ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoLaVerne Swanson said: where does one vote? I see nothing. about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoHarvest Lakelander said: Thanks Karl for bringing forward the fact that labels "don't say anything about how they were altered, so they don't actually tell you ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoKarl Haro von Mogel said: I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am not an opponent of GE labeling per se, however many of the ideas people have ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoMegan Westgate said: We have been working for the past 4 years on launching the Non-GMO Project, and the first "Non-GMO Project Verified" labels will start ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoNancy Cook said: On what planet do you think that the idea of non-GMO labeling is really starting to happen? It's going to take a lot more than a few ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 134 weeks agoNancy Cook said: Can I win the Michael Pollan prize if I vote AGAINST the GMO fortified thing? Where is the "honesty" you are talking about? If you want ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
