Atkins Ranch gains full non-GMO accreditation in US
New Zealand’s Atkins Ranch is the first lamb exporter in the world to gain full non-GMO accreditation in America through
the non-GMO project.
“It is something we’ve been working towards since the start of this year,” says New Zealand supply chain manager Pat
Maher. “As of this week 100 per cent of our product is 100 per cent non-GMO project verified.”
Non-GMO project is an American-based organisation that provides third-party verification for non-GMO food and products.
“Consumers want to know their lamb is free from nasty additives – is free from risk. In America you can’t make a blanket
claim to be GMO free unless you’ve gone through this group.”
The non-GMO status goes hand-in-hand with Atkins Ranch’s grass fed and antibiotic-free requirements.
“Part of the declaration our suppliers sign states they don’t feed their animals any genetically-modified feed, which is
easy in New Zealand as it is currently banned. That has traceability right through the supply chain as they make another
declaration through their ASD form when stock leave their farm, and it is included with our quality assurance documents
so farmers will be audited on it from time to time as well.
“The non-GMO project ‘seal’ is the market leader for GMO avoidance and one of the fastest growing labels in the US
retail sector. It is a significant point of difference for our product to carry this seal,” says Maher.
“It’s another benefit for our our farmers to sell rather than just our clean green image. For American consumers being
non-GMO is point of recognition and helps with their buying decision. It is another way of making Atkins Ranch lamb pop
on retail shelves.
The non-GMO announcement comes just months after Atkins Ranch announced Waipari Station, one of their suppliers, became
it was the first producer in the world to gain the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Step 4 accreditation. Atkins Ranch
expects that 60 of their suppliers will be GAP Step 4 accredited by the end of the year.
Atkins Ranch, formerly known as Lean Meats in New Zealand, sells lamb and lamb products through Whole Foods Markets in
the US and Canada.
Atkins Ranch was started by New Zealand farmers Phil Guscott and John Atkins. It is a cooperative of about 100 sheep
farms around New Zealand with 50 staff in the US and three procurement positions in New Zealand.
ENDS