The Non-GMO Blog

Top 5 Sustainable Sourcing Strategies

These strategies reflect a broader shift toward sourcing models that prioritize transparency, environmental outcomes, and long-term supply stability.   Direct Farmer Partnerships: Brands are building long-term relationships with growers to secure supply, improve traceability, and support regenerative or organic practices at the farm level. Regenerative and Soil Health Sourcing: Sourcing from farms using cover cropping, […]

Nanoplastics Raise Heavy Metal Levels in Lettuce

New research from Texas A&M University finds that nanoplastics may significantly increase the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in food crops. In a controlled hydroponic study, lettuce exposed to both nanoplastics and cadmium absorbed up to 61 percent more cadmium in edible leaf tissue compared to plants exposed to cadmium alone. Cadmium is a toxic […]

10 Year Study of Soil Carbon Stocks in Organic Ag

A new long-term study published in Scientific Reports finds that organic farming systems using reduced tillage, compost, and mulch applications can significantly increase soil organic carbon stocks over time. The research tracked changes in temperate agricultural soils over a ten year period, offering rare field-based evidence on how management practices influence carbon storage. The study […]

EWG’s Full 2026 Dirty Dozen List

The Environmental Working Group has released its 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, ranking fruits and vegetables based on pesticide residue levels using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. The guide groups produce into three tiers to help inform purchasing decisions. The Dirty Dozen, identified as having […]

Organic Farming Creates Fertile Soils

A growing body of research continues to show that organic farming systems improve soil fertility, structure, and biological activity compared to conventional agriculture. Studies consistently show that soils under organic management contain higher levels of organic matter, a key indicator of fertility. Increased organic matter improves nutrient availability, enhances soil structure, and supports water retention, […]