Mexico has declared its intention to never grow GMO corn

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) has emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving the biodiversity of native corn and maintaining the ban on the cultivation of genetically modified (GMO) corn.

Julio Berdegué, SADER minister, emphasized the cultural, historical and environmental importance of corn in Mexico, Mexico business News reported.

“This country will not grow GMO corn for any purpose, whether for human consumption, feed or any other use,” Berdegué said. He emphasized that protecting indigenous maize varieties, which constitute a critical reservoir of global genetic biodiversity, is important to address climate change and ensure sustainable agriculture.

The Minister noted that the origins of Mexican civilization are closely linked to maize, which has been a staple crop since ancient times. He noted the role of farmers in preserving biodiversity through traditional methods of seed selection and hybridization, which continue to produce new varieties of indigenous corn.

Despite drought conditions in some regions caused by climate change, Berdegué assured that Mexico has enough non-GMO white corn. Favorable precipitation in central states such as Jalisco and Michoacán contributed to good yields, as reported by producers.

The Minister also pointed to data from the 2022 agricultural census conducted by INEGI, the national statistics service, which shows that small producers with plots of 1-5 hectares produce 81.8% of Mexico’s corn. This underscores the important role of smallholders in the country’s agricultural landscape.

Tags: corn, Mexico