The Mexican agricultural lobby denounces the ban on GMO corn; organic growers welcome it

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) – Mexico’s main agricultural lobby criticized the government’s decision to ban genetically modified corn on Saturday, while organic producers hailed the move that should protect small farmers.

Mexico “will revoke and refrain from granting permits for the release of genetically modified corn seeds into the environment,” said a decree released Thursday evening, which also made the elimination of imports of GMO corn mandatory. ‘by 2024.

Supporters of GMO corn say banning domestic cultivation would limit options for Mexican farmers, while phasing out its import could put the food chain at risk.

“Lack of access to production options puts us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors, such as corn growers in the United States,” said Laura Tamayo, spokesperson for Mexico’s National Council of Agriculture.

“On the other hand, the import of genetically modified grains from the United States is essential for many products in the agri-food chain,” added Tamayo, also regional director of a Bayer company, including the Monsanto agrochemical unit. manufactures Roundup weedkiller and GMO corn designed to survive pesticide application.

Opponents of genetically modified crops celebrated the ban.

“It’s a huge victory,” said Homero Blas, head of the Mexican company of organic producers.

Opponents of GM crops say they contaminate centuries-old native varieties of corn and encourage the use of dangerous pesticides that endanger public health and harm biodiversity.

Mexico is largely self-sufficient in the white corn used to make the country’s staple tortillas, but relies on imports of GMO yellow corn primarily from the United States for livestock feed.

It was not clear whether the decree will phase out imported GM maize for livestock or whether the rules will apply only to maize grown for human consumption.

The rules call for a phase-out by 2024 of the use of the herbicide glyphosate, used in Roundup, the same year Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leaves office.

Bayer has agreed to pay up to $ 10.9 billion to settle nearly 100,000 lawsuits in the United States claiming Roundup caused cancer.