project type non profit organization industry product certification founded 2007 headquarters bellingham washington united states key people megan westgate executive director number of employees 20 2016 website www.nongmoproject.org the non gmo project is a 501 c 3 non profit organization . the organization began as an initiative of independent natural foods retailers in the u.s. and canada 1 with the stated aim to provide non gmo genetically modified organism labeling for products produced in compliance with their non gmo project standard . 2 contents 1 mission 2 standard and seal 3 sales 4 history 5 see also 6 references 7 further reading 8 external links mission edit founded in 2007 the non gmo project s mission is to preserve and build sources of non gmo products educate consumers and provide verified non gmo choices . it third party verification and labeling for non gmo food and products . they also work with food manufacturers distributors growers and seed suppliers to develop standards for detection of gmos and for the reduction of contamination risk of the non gmo food supply with gmos . foodchain global advisors a part of global id group provides the technical capabilities . 3 4 part of its mission is to educate consumers and the food industry to help build awareness about gmos and their impact on our health . 5 it claims that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified organisms . 5 6 their primary strategy for providing consumers an informed choice and protecting a non gmo food supply is to leverage the power of the marketplace . 7 standard and seal edit the non gmo project maintains a consensus based standard 8 outlines their system for ensuring best practices for avoiding gmos . methods such as segregation traceability risk assessment sampling techniques and quality control management are emphasized in the standard . the project s product verification program assesses ingredients products and manufacturing facilities to establish compliance with the standard . all major gmo risk ingredients must be tested for compliance with the non gmo project standard prior to use in a non gmo project verified product . 9 the process is managed through a web based application and evaluation program developed for the project . 10 the project s seal indicates compliance with the standards . 11 12 sales edit according to the non gmo project as of september 2013 project verified products exceeded 3.5 billion . this would be approximately 0.4 % of the total food sales in the united states 1.3 trillion in 2012 . 13 the non gmo project reports 797 verification program enrollment inquiries in the second quarter of 2013 compared to 194 inquiries during the same period in 2012 representing more than a 300 % increase . 14 history edit in 2005 two natural food retailers formed the project hoping to create a standardized definition of non gmo . 15 the project worked with foodchain global advisors which provided the scientific and technical expertise . in the spring of 2007 the projects board of directors 16 was expanded to include representatives from additional groups and formed advisory boards for technical and policy issues . 17 see also edit genetically modified food controversies references edit board of directors the non gmo project http www.nongmoproject.org product verification non gmo project standard the organic & non gmo report . april 2007 the organic and non gmo report the non gmo project rises to forefront of natural food industry william neuman for the taipei times . 30 aug 2009 the non gmo project aims to back up food makers claims that their products are largely free of biotech ingredients a b non gmo project about . retrieved 12 june 2013 . q a with megan westgate . daily camera . seeking food ingredients that aren t gene altered . new york times . retrieved 12 june 2013 . http www.nongmoproject.org wp content uploads 2013 06 non gmo project standard v10.pdf westgate megan . top 3 things to know about the non gmo project . retrieved 12 june 2013 . global id was engaged by the non gmo project to design and administer a non gmo verification program . golden triangle newspapers 1 archived june 14 2008 at the wayback machine . http www.nongmoproject.org wp content uploads 2009 06 revised seal copy.jpg non gmo project understanding our seal . 2 http www.ers.usda.gov data products food expenditures.aspx . missing or empty title help http www.nongmoproject.org 2013 09 17 non gmo project moves to expand verification capabilities natural food retailers to set non biotech standard food chemical news 3 . dead link http www.nongmoproject.org about governance board of directors the non gmo project history further reading edit andrew kimbrell your right to know genetic engineering and the secret changes in your food earth aware editions 2007 . isbn 1 932771 52 2 external links edit non gmo project retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title the non gmo project & 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