Packaged Facts: As Non-GMO Market Grows, an "Organic" Tug of War Ensues

Organic foods are non-GMO, but not all non-GMO foods are organic, say natural food trade groups

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Jan 27, 2016, 02:49 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- There is a steady, ongoing increase in the number of products identified as non-GMO in the U.S. market. This is taking place in both the retail market and in foodservice. Driving the market is an expanding consumer desire to have healthier foods with fewer added ingredients or any aspects that are not "natural."

In the report, Non-GMO Foods: U.S. and Global Market Perspective, 2nd Edition, market research publisher Packaged Facts estimates that retail sales of foods and beverages identified as non-GMO were approximately $200 billion in 2014. This represented about a quarter of all retail food and beverage sales for that year. Looking ahead, Packaged Facts projects that non-GMO food and beverage retail sales will reach $330 billion by 2019, an increase of 65%. In that same period, retail sales of all food and beverages will only grow by 13%. Market growth continues largely unabated despite lingering consumer skepticism, in addition to assertions by the U.S. government and international bodies such as the World Health Organization that GMOs are indeed safe.

Beyond the debate surrounding the healthfulness of non-GMO foods is a quiet tug of war between the market for non-GMO foods and the market for organic foods. In many respects, the non-GMO market has piggybacked on the demand for organic and natural products. Organic and natural foods accounted for an estimated 60% of all non-GMO retail sales in 2014. Packaged Facts projects that this share will increase to about three-fourths of overall non-GMO retail sales by 2019.

But as some organic companies and farmers attest, while organic foods are non-GMO, not all non-GMO foods are organic. The frustration arises largely because of the hefty investments necessary to meet federal government organic standards and to obtain organic certification, yet grocery store sales of less heavily regulated non-GMO products are outpacing sales of foods labeled organic. Rather than being government regulated, non-GMO certification is awarded by private groups such as the Non-GMO Project, which tests to make sure GMOs aren't mixed into ingredients during production or transportation but doesn't prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides on crops used as ingredients.

Non-GMO Foods: U.S. and Global Market Perspective, 2nd Edition reviews the stakeholders in the controversy, both pro- and anti-GMO, and the current intensifying conflict between them in the courts, legislatures, fields, stores, and restaurants in the U.S. and around the globe. The report also reviews new non-GMO food and beverages, as well as recent breakthroughs in GM foods and the reaction to them. In addition, the report offers growth projections for non-GMO food sales in the U.S. and global markets and the results of an exclusive Packaged Facts national online consumer survey regarding their beliefs about GMO foods. For more information or to purchase Non-GMO Foods: U.S. and Global Market Perspective, 2nd Edition visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/redirect.asp?progid=87736&productid=8775964. Packaged Facts also offers related reports on gluten-free, ancient grains, and natural/organic food and beverage products on the company's website, www.packagedfacts.com.

About Packaged Facts – Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics, including consumer demographics and shopper insights, consumer financial products and services, consumer goods and retailing, consumer packaged goods, and pet products and services. Packaged Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased at www.PackagedFacts.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

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SOURCE Packaged Facts