ROCKVILLE, MD. — Non-bioengineered food and beverage sales in the United States will be about $178 billion in 2013, which will account for almost a quarter of all U.S. food and beverage sales, according to the report “Non-G.M.O. foods: U.S. market perspective” released this month by Packaged Facts. By 2017, U.S. non-bioengineered food and beverage sales may have a value of about $264 billion, or about 30% of all U.S. food and beverage sales.

A variety of factors, including a potential introduction of mandatory non-bioengineered labeling, might lead to the non-bioengineered category achieving a higher percentage of the total market, said David Sprinkle, the research director at Rockville-based Packaged Facts. Factors that might slow sales include a potential economic downturn or a potential widespread acceptance of new bioengineered seafood, meat and poultry products.

Packaged Facts said, “There is widespread agreement within the scientific community that G.M.O.s pose no threat to human health or the environment. Nevertheless, there is a broad base of concern among advocacy groups about G.M.O.s, a concern driven in part by fear of unknown ramifications.”