Cultivating Equity: How the Non-GMO Project's Program Lifts BIPOC Brands

BELLINGHAM, WA – January 30, 2026 – The Non-GMO Project is once again aiming to level the playing field in the natural products industry, announcing the seventh round of its Equitable Transfer Program (ETP). Beginning February 1, 2026, the organization will accept applications for a new cycle of grants designed to dismantle systemic barriers faced by businesses led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

This round will distribute $10,000 in funding, continuing a program that has awarded $46,000 to 17 brands since its inception in 2023. The ETP provides targeted financial support to help BIPOC-led companies in the food, beverage, and body-care sectors afford the costs associated with Non-GMO Project verification, a key marker of trust for many consumers.

“True nourishment goes beyond what’s on our plates — it’s about the systems, relationships, and communities that sustain life,” said Megan Westgate, Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, in a statement. “Through the Equitable Transfer Program, we partner with and advocate for BIPOC-led brands who are strengthening our food system from the ground up. When we improve equity and access, we build a healthier, more connected future for everyone.”

Dismantling Barriers in the Natural Products Aisle

The need for programs like the ETP is rooted in long-standing inequities that permeate the American business landscape. BIPOC entrepreneurs have historically faced significant hurdles in accessing capital, industry infrastructure, and market visibility. With less than five percent of American business owners identifying as Black, for instance, the struggle for funding and resources is a well-documented reality.

In the competitive natural products sector, third-party certifications are often a prerequisite for gaining shelf space and consumer confidence. However, the rigorous process of verifying a product's supply chain to meet a standard like the Non-GMO Project's comes at a cost—one that can be prohibitive for small or emerging businesses. This financial barrier can unintentionally perpetuate a lack of diversity on store shelves, locking out innovative brands with strong community ties and compelling missions.

The Equitable Transfer Program was created to address this specific challenge head-on. By providing grants that can cover or significantly offset verification fees, the program offers more than just financial aid; it provides a crucial key to unlock market access. It allows brands to earn the coveted 'Butterfly' seal, signaling to retailers and shoppers a commitment to transparency and ingredient integrity that might otherwise be too costly to prove.

From Grant to Growth: The Tangible Impact on Entrepreneurs

Since 2023, the program has demonstrated a clear and tangible impact, empowering a diverse cohort of entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and amplify their missions. The stories of the 17 recipients paint a vivid picture of a more inclusive food system in the making.

Early recipients like Tiffin Asha, a Portland-based maker of South Indian condiments, used the grant to renew their verification as they expanded from a food cart to a national brand, reinforcing their commitment to quality ingredients. More recently, Heray Spice, which sources saffron and other spices directly from Afghanistan, leveraged the ETP to certify five of its products. The founder noted the certification strengthens the company's promise of transparency and ethical practices to its customers.

For many founders, the support is as much emotional as it is financial. The founder of Levelle Nutrition, a company addressing the specific dietary needs of an often-ignored consumer base, expressed that the program made her feel seen and acknowledged. Similarly, TUYYO, a Hispanic-owned brand of clean-ingredient powdered beverages, is using its verification to build trust within Hispanic communities, which often face disproportionate rates of diet-related health issues.

Other recipients are using the platform to reintroduce traditional foods and sustainable practices. Choputa, founded by Uche Jumbo, is working to bring the ancient West African supergrain fonio to the modern breakfast table. The Non-GMO Project's Westgate praised Jumbo's work as a powerful example of how “traditional food wisdom holds the solutions to a host of modern challenges, from climate change to food security.” The latest recipient, Sun Ghee, was able to use the funds to complete demanding supply-chain tracing, affirming its commitment to cultural authenticity and integrity as it expands into broader retail.

A Broader Vision for an Equitable Food System

The Equitable Transfer Program is not a standalone initiative but a key component of the Non-GMO Project's evolving and broadening mission. As a predominantly white-led organization, its leadership has publicly acknowledged a commitment to a learning journey, seeking to understand its role in systemic inequities and actively transfer resources and power to BIPOC leaders in the natural products space.

This commitment is reflected in the organization's expanding vision. In 2024, it launched the Food Integrity Collective, a framework designed to unite the non-GMO, organic, and regenerative agriculture movements. This holistic approach is built on eight essential “petals,” or principles, including minimal processing, regenerative sourcing, and—critically—healthy human communities. This petal explicitly connects the organization's work to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, weaving social justice into the fabric of food system integrity.

Furthering this vision, the organization recently introduced a "Non-UPF Verified" program to help consumers identify and avoid ultra-processed foods. This move recognizes that challenges to human and environmental health extend beyond genetic modification and include industrial processing methods that distance people from whole, natural ingredients. By tackling these interconnected issues, the Non-GMO Project positions the ETP as part of a comprehensive strategy to build a food system that is not only safe and transparent but also just and equitable.

The Power of the Butterfly in a Conscious Marketplace

The support provided by the ETP is especially valuable in the context of current consumer trends. Demand for transparent, ethically produced goods is not a niche interest but a powerful market force. The certified non-GMO market was valued at $45 billion in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year, demonstrating robust and growing consumer appetite.

This demand is amplified when combined with other certifications. Products carrying both the USDA Organic seal and the Non-GMO Project Verified 'Butterfly' label are seeing the highest sales growth, underscoring that today's shoppers seek multiple layers of assurance. Market data from SPINS further validates the commercial power of third-party verification; for example, Non-GMO Project Verified shelf-stable cold cereals grew 15.7% in dollar sales over two years, more than double the rate of products with self-made non-GMO claims.

By providing a pathway to verification, the Equitable Transfer Program gives BIPOC-led brands the tools to tap into this conscious consumerism. It equips them to compete on a more level playing field, where their commitment to quality and transparency is clearly and credibly communicated. As the application window for the seventh round opens, it offers another opportunity for a new cohort of entrepreneurs to harness this market power and continue the vital work of building a more resilient, diverse, and nourishing food future for all.