Organic vs. Non-GMO: Dare to Compare Dear Friend, First Campbell’s, then General Mills, Mars, Kellogg's and who knows how many other food giants are preparing to label GMO’s nationwide? It’s a hot topic in politics, in the news and on store shelves. In fact, sales of products with non-GMO claims are growing faster than products with other sustainability/health claims, including certified organic, yet consumers are confused about what many of these claims actually mean. That's why we’ve created a comparison chart to help you communicate the benefits of organic to your customers. Most importantly, since genetic modification is not permitted in certified organic products, organic foods are by definition non-GMO. This doesn’t work the other way around; non-GMO does not mean organic. Organic certification involves so much more than the prohibition of genetic engineering. Delving deeper into the issue, you will find that the highest volume GMO food crops in the US (corn and soy) were modified to tolerate the application of large amounts of chemical pesticides and herbicides. This widespread use of synthetic chemicals has been associated with biodiversity loss, water contamination, human health impacts and the evolution of superweeds/superpests with increased resistance to chemical applications. A treadmill effect has been created: farmers apply more and more chemical inputs to control superweeds/superpests, which were created by the widespread use of chemical inputs in the first place! The environmental impacts of organic agriculture look much better. Natural pest and weed control methods do not contribute to the rise of superweeds or superpests. Research has shown that organic farming methods can promote biodiversity, improve soil fertility and support water quality. For consumers, organic foods help reduce dietary exposure to pesticides and studies have shown they contain more nutrients than conventionally grown foods. Organic vs. Non-GMO? No contest…. choose organic! Sincerely, Global Organics