Do you want to avoid genetically modified products? Reader submitted

Buycott is a new App which helps you to organize your everyday consumer spending so that it reflects your principles.

So what does that actually mean and how does the App work? Essentially there are two steps to the process.

1. Scan the bar code of a product, I tested this out on some Vegemite.
2. The product is then identified and matched against a community generated 'Campaign'. I joined a campaign called 'Say No to GMO - Monsanto Products Boycott'.

This campaign has 14,000 members and essentially contains a list of 243 companies that use Monsanto products. If you scan a product contained in this list then it is flagged by the App.

After scanning my Vegemite I got details on Kraft Foods, who make Vegemite and apparently don't use Monsanto products.

The concept behind the App is great but needs some time to develop a strong community around it to really deliver relevant results. There are a few points to note if you want to dive in and get involved.

• Quite a few products I tried to scan were not in the database so you need to add their details yourself. I'm sure this will get better as the App is used more in NZ.
• Not all campaigns listed on the website are available to join within the App. I'm not sure if this is because I'm in NZ but it would be good to have access to all the campaigns.
• You can set up your own campaigns which is really the driving force behind the App but could lead to vigilante-style campaigns targeting brands and companies.

The App is available for iOS and Android and is well worth using if you're willing to put some time in to scanning products and creating campaigns.

http://www.buycott.com/mobile

Have you ever wondered whether the money you spend ends up funding causes you oppose?

A buycott is the opposite of a boycott. Buycott helps you to organize your everyday consumer spending so that it reflects your principles.

Example: During the SOPA/PIPA debate in 2012, a number of companies pushed to pass legislation that reduced online freedom of expression, while other companies fought hard to oppose the legislation. With Buycott, a campaign can be quickly created around a cause, with the goal of targeting companies with a boycott unless they change their position, or buycotting a company to show your support.

When you use Buycott to scan a product, it will look up the product, determine what brand it belongs to, and figure out what company owns that brand (and who owns that company, ad infinitum). It will then cross-check the product owners against the companies and brands included in the campaigns you've joined, in order to tell you if the scanned product conflicts with one of your campaign commitments.