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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.
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.
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!