Stay Strong, Mexico! Persevere in the Fight to Keep GM Corn Out

 

Stay Strong, Mexico! Persevere in the Fight to Keep GM Corn Out

Tara A. Spears

A popular saying in Mexico is ‘sin maíz, no hay país’— without corn, there is no country.

When the issue of replacing native Mexican corn with Monsanto genetically modified seed first began, it seemed so wrong on several levels. Firstly, Mexico is the world birthplace of maize with 64 types of corn- of which 59 varieties are heirloom Mexican corn- all with unique characteristics, with different flavors, colors, shapes and sizes. To allow foreign GM corn would risk losing the unique and special native corn species- to what purpose? Foreign profit! The legal battle rages on 25 years later.

Secondly, for thousands of years, indigenous communities have honored the ingredients that the ground has provided them throughout their history. So, corn is one of the purest inheritances of ancestors in Mexico, which even in the 21^st century, corn represents an important part of the country’s culture and gastronomy. Corn holds incredible cultural, economic, and ecological significance in Mexico.

Thirdly, just because a biochemical company wants a sale, doesn’t mean they can force another country to participate. It’s just another conquistador, riding in a jet instead on a horse, lusting after the riches of Mexico; but modern Mexico has strong leadership, tenacity, and experience in dealing with marauders. In 2020 Mexican President López Obrador issued a decree to ban the use of genetically modified (GM) corn for human consumption by the end of January 2024. According to this decree, “Mexico would ban GM corn imports to safeguard human health, maintain self-sufficiency and food sovereignty, preserve biodiversity and a healthy agricultural environment, and to protect its native corn.”                                                                                        

According to Food and Power.net, by flooding this country with GM corn, over two-thirds of Mexican corn farmers that still save their own seeds and plant native strains, would be forced to purchase seed instead. It would be a catastrophic expense to the small independent farmers. Indigenous farmers in Mexico use traditional practices to cultivate corn, which helps conserve soil and water, maintain genetic diversity, and safeguard the environment (Mega, 2018).

The private Mexican corn seed banks are a diverse genetic trove that is  “absolutely critical to modern crop breeding,” says Tim Wise, the Director of Policy Research at the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University. “It’s a critical natural resource for the modern world,” he says. When researchers look for drought-resistant strains or corn that can requires less fertilizer, they turn to Mexico’s native corn gene pool.

According to Food and Power.net, by flooding this country with GM corn, over two-thirds of Mexican corn farmers that still save their own seeds and plant native strains, would be forced to purchase seed instead. It would be a catastrophic expense to the small independent farmers.

This diverse genetic trove (of saved seeds) is “absolutely critical to modern crop breeding,” says Tim Wise, the Director of Policy Research at the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University. “It’s a critical natural resource for the modern world,” he says. When researchers look for drought-resistant strains or corn that can requires less fertilizer, they turn to Mexico’s native corn gene pool.

The producers/owners of GMO corn- the US chemical giant Monsanto Corporation/Bayer- hypes many reasons to switch to their product but don’t be fooled by the slick terminology. The sales literature raves “The popularity of GM crops can be attributed to their higher yield, increased production, and greater nutritional content. Additionally, GM crops require less land, water, fertilizer, and pesticides than their non-transgenic counterparts. These advantages of GM crops can help alleviate food security issues (particularly in poor countries), meet the increased food demand of a growing world population, and tackle climate risk.” (Teferra, 2021). Sounds perfect, right?

The U.S. position in support of corporate interests is stuck in a mythical past, when massive agribusiness claimed their products would save family farmers without harming consumers or the environment—claims we know are false. Mexico is taking a different approach to create greater resiliency and healthier alternatives that meet public demand according to the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy 2024. Stay strong, Mexico!  You have the power of your history,culture, and traditions to contain this foreign Goliath. 

The world applauds ..Mexico’s decision to restrict genetically modified corn imports, safeguarding native maize varieties from GMO contamination and preserving Mexico’s cultural heritage. This bold action will help protect and build the non-GMO food supply while preserving Mexico’s sovereignty and autonomy.

Several consumer watchdog agencies are also against GM use. As Greenpeace .org shares, what most people don’t know is the direct relationship between GMO crops and toxic pesticides. The genetically engineered crops directly promote an industrial and chemical-intensive model of farming harmful to people, the environment, and wildlife. (2018) There are so many reasons to ban GMO corn in Mexico!