What Does the Non-GMO Label Mean?

What Does GMO Mean?

GMO stands for genetically modified organism and can refer to a plant or an animal. “Bioengineered” is another term to describe these organisms. The modifications are typically done in a lab, using genetic engineering and/or transgenic technology to create an organism that couldn’t have occurred on its own in nature. Humans create GMOs to shape the natural world according to their desires.

Humans altering nature isn’t new; we’ve used traditional methods to breed plants and animals for generations. For instance, the first corn on the cob was smaller than a finger. After centuries of selective breeding, we made corn larger, sweeter, and more delicious for humans. Traditional breeding techniques are slow and uncertain, though. Genetic engineering is much faster—a shortcut in natural evolution.

Sixty-four countries require all GMO foods to be labeled. The US requires some GMO foods to be labeled, but not all.

GMO crops can spread beyond where they are planted and crossbreed with their non-GMO relatives. This can lead to the loss of non-GMO plants, since GMO crops are often modified to be more resilient than their natural counterparts.

The vast majority of all genetically modified crops—80%—have been engineered for herbicide tolerance. This means they can survive when sprayed by  herbicides  that are used to kill weeds. Herbicides drive habitat loss for wildlife, limit farmland biodiversity and deplete soil health.

Non-GMO crops help prevent all of the above from happening. Ridding our supply chains of GMOs is a vital step toward a healthy food system that supports us and the planet.

We’re in business to save our home planet. The jury is still out on how bioengineered foods will impact the natural world over time. But we believe that the toxic herbicides used in GMO crop cultivation harm ecosystems on multiple fronts. For this reason, we support full labeling of GMO products so customers know what they’re buying.

People often ask why Patagonia, an outdoor clothing company, makes food. It’s pretty simple. In sourcing cotton and other fibers for clothing, we’ve learned how industrial agriculture—a major user of GMOs—threatens and degrades the outdoor places we love. Protecting the earth, and our future on it, means we have to find a better way.

So we source foods that help restore the planet instead of depleting it. We work with organic and regenerative farms that work to steadily improve the health of ecosystems. As our founder, Yvon Chouinard, says, “People buy a jacket every few years, but they eat several times a day. If we’re going to save our home planet, it starts with food.”