[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re curious about certifications, this series is for you: Over the course of several blog posts we\u2019ve been exploring some of the existing certifications that are available for specialty green coffee, including taking a look at their mission, standards, and whatever auditing or other requirements that are important for you to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>You can read the previous posts about\u00a0<\/span><\/i>organic<\/span><\/i><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Fair Trade\/Fairtrade<\/span><\/i><\/a>, and\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Rainforest Alliance<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0by visiting\u00a0<\/span><\/i>cafeimports.com\/blog<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This fourth post\u00a0<\/span>covers the Non-GMO Project Verified Product certification. While<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>his is not a common certification for coffee products<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Caf<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0Imports has held Non-GMO\u00a0<\/span>Project\u00a0<\/span>certification since 2016<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0we thought it might be valuable to share our reasoning and the requirements for this particular mark.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.cafeimports.com\/images\/Cafe_Imports_Non-GMO-1.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”at a glance” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Non-GMO Project Certification at a Glance<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”What is” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What\u2019s a GMO?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n GMO stands for genetically modified organism, and is a term used to describe<\/span>\u00a0any organism that has had its genetic material biotechnologically changed in a way that could not naturally occur, and\/or in a non\u2013naturally occurring combination.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBiotechnology\u201d means that the genetic alteration cannot and would not occur in nature and so is impossible without human intervention<\/span>, and takes several different forms<\/span>. One of the primary areas of this type of modification is the combination of cells and DNA material from\u00a0<\/span>separate taxonomic families\u2014for instance, using synthetic genes to enhance the production of soybeans, or\u00a0<\/span>inserting\u00a0<\/span>a gene from rice into tomatoes to create increased tolerance to drought and cold weather.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While there is cross-breeding and hybridizing done in the coffee sector,\u00a0<\/span>this work<\/span>\u00a0has not yet crossed taxonomic families, and there are no commercially available GMO coffees on the market.\u00a0<\/span>Hybrid coffees are not considered GMOs.\u00a0<\/span>Research\u00a0<\/span>on GMO coffee\u00a0<\/span>has been conducted\u00a0<\/span>in limited capacity<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>those efforts have not resulted in the influx of GMO\u00a0<\/span>coffee that<\/span>\u00a0some have feared.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”origins” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Origins of the Non-GMO Project<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Non-GMO Project was established by two grocery stores in\u00a0<\/span>2007<\/span>\u00a0as an effort to encourage clear and consistent labeling for consumers with regards to GMO food and other consumer products.\u00a0<\/span>At that time, interest in and concern over GMOs had reached a new height, and the companies behind the Project\u2014the Natural Grocery Company in California and the Big Carrot Natural Food Market in Toronto\u2014led a campaign to demand that food and beverage products that contained GMOs were clearly<\/span>\u00a0and accurately<\/span>\u00a0labeled.<\/span><\/p>\n This grass-roots initiative became the Non-GMO Project, and that same year the new nonprofit organization had teamed up with the country\u2019s premier non-GMO product verifying technician service, FoodChain ID<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0in order to draft a comprehensive set of standards. These standards as well as the Non-GMO Project \u201cbutterfly\u201d logo were released in 2010, and the certification has been one of the fastest-growing third-party verified seals in North America, currently\u00a0<\/span>associated<\/span>\u00a0with more than 50,000 products.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.cafeimports.com\/images\/Cafe_Imports_Non-GMO-1-2.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.cafeimports.com\/images\/Cafe_Imports_Non-GMO-1-4.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”What you need to know” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n What You Need to Know<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First and foremost, we need to reiterate that coffee is a product with low risk for contamination from GMOs, and consumers will not likely accidentally consume GMO-created coffee, period. The research in that field is still relatively young, but the value of the certification here is in transparency, traceability, and accountability for the coffee sector as well as for the world of commercial agriculture at large.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n High-risk products include commodities such as cotton, soy, corn, canola, sugar beets, and potatoes, among others. Livestock and poultry products are also considered high-risk because they are often fed GMO corn, soy, alfalfa, and other modified products. Wheat, rice, flax, tomatoes, and mushrooms are considered monitored-risk inputs, which require careful attention paid in order to prevent supply-chain contamination. Some of the GMO-derivative products that are commonly found are corn syrup, aspartame and other artificial flavors, MSG, and\u00a0<\/span>xanthan<\/span>\u00a0gum.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”What you need to know” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n According to the\u00a0<\/span>Non-GMO Projects Standards<\/span><\/a>, products\u00a0<\/span>submitted for verification\u00a0<\/span>are evaluated by their composition, including any ingredients and\/or inputs that are used to create\u00a0<\/span>them. These products are assessed based on the percentage (by weight) of various ingredients and inputs in them; the likelihood that any of the products\u2019 components are derived from a GMO; and whether there is a precursor that can be tested against the existing product. The products must maintain their status through continued testing and auditing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Products that can be verified include (but are not limited to): seeds and other propagation materials such as seedlings, livestock and poultry, consumer and wholesale goods that are for use by humans and pets, over-the-counter medications and homeopathic treatments, and even products and goods that are non-risk items, such as unflavored packaged beverages (like still and sparkling water) and goods made entirely from salt.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.cafeimports.com\/images\/Cafe_Imports_Non-GMO-1-5.jpg” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”75%” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”What you need to know” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Additionally, inputs and ingredients that require verification in order to achieve certification include flavorings, seasonings, herbs, seeds, animal-derived products like wool and eggs, and packaging for products that are available for human consumption\u2014including coffee, along with tea and soup.\u00a0<\/span>(Remember that organic-, Fair Trade\/Fairtrade, and Rainforest Alliance certifications all come with a prohibition on GMO seeds or any other GMO inputs on certified farms.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Project also has strict standards about handling along the chain of custody, and requires traceability for particular activities along that chain, such as product segregation, quality assurance, cleanout, etc.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Project Verified Products\u2014those which carry the Non-GMO Project seal\u2014must be properly labeled,\u00a0<\/span>have systems in place for\u00a0<\/span>quality-assurance\u00a0<\/span>maintenance<\/span>, be subject to frequent testing, and have clear traceability along the chain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cafe Imports has held Non-GMO Project certification since 2016 as a way of signaling our position against the use of genetically modified organisms<\/span>\u00a0in food development<\/span>, standing by the statement of the non-GMO project that \u201cthe integrity of our diverse genetic inheritance is essential to human and environmental health and ecological harmony.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We<\/span>\u00a0were the first green-coffee purveyor and<\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>now\u00a0<\/span>one of many several coffee companies that has opted to receive and maintain this certification despite the lack of GMOs present in the coffee sector today. Our primary reasoning for this is not only to provide a guarantee to our customers about our rejection of GMOs in coffee, but also to push back against what we see as unfair efforts by the GMO-food industry to block non-GMO labeling in order to confuse, mislead, and take advantage of consumers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We commit to never knowingly buy or sell coffee that is classified as GMO, and to maintain our high standards of traceability and integrity with our partners all along the supply chain. Joining us in our efforts are many of our closest producer and export partners, who have also verified their rejection of GMO coffee and help us maintain our certification and the verification of the products we trade together.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”\/\/cdn.cafeimports.com\/images\/Cafe_Imports_Non-GMO-1-8.jpg” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Becoming Certified \/ Is NON Gmo Better” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n