Constitutional amendment bans GMO corn planting in Mexico, aims to preserve native corn varieties

A landmark constitutional amendment in Mexico has banned the plantings of genetically modified corn nationwide. Lawmakers say this measure will preserve native varieties and protect the country’s cultural identity.

Mexico’s decision to ban sowing of GMO corn is a turning point for the nation. In Mexico, corn is a staple in the nation’s food supply and essential to Mexico’s cultural identity. The bill, which received strong support from multiple political parties, amends two articles of the Mexican Constitution to recognize corn as an “element of national identity” and formalize the state’s obligation to ensure that all sowing of corn remains free from GMO practices.

The legislation passed by an overwhelming majority in the Cámara de Diputados (Mexican Chamber of Deputies), with 409 votes in favor to 69 opposed. The amendment must still pass Mexico’s Senate.

Supporters of the bill argued that planting GMO corn damages natural diversity and threatens Mexico’s more than 50 native corn varieties, which have been developed over thousands of years. Many legislators believe it is vital to preserve those corn varieties because they protect genetic integrity and Mexico’s cultural heritage.

The bill gained support through the argument that genetically modified corn-growing practices damage natural diversity and threaten Mexico’s numerous native corn species. For thousands of years, indigenous communities have meticulously cultivated local corn types, which helped them persist. Supporters of the bill maintain that Mexico’s natural corn diversity plays an essential role in its natural environment and cultural legacy beyond its agricultural function. Numerous legislators believe it is vital to preserve local corn varieties because they safeguard both genetic integrity and cultural heritage, which form the nation’s shared legacy.

Proponents of the amendment also argue that once GMO traits enter the environment and contaminate Mexico’s corn, they are difficult—if not impossible—to remove.

GMO corn has been at the center of a trade dispute between Mexico and the United States. In 2020, Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree banning imports of GMO corn and glyphosate herbicide by 2024. In response, Washington’s trade representative responded with a formal complaint under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) that argued Mexico’s restrictions—aimed at keeping GM corn out of tortillas and other corn products for human consumption —were not based on science. Late last year, three arbitrators ruled in favor of the U.S.

Source: Latin American Post

To view source article, visit: https://latinamericanpost.com/economy-en/mexican-reform-bans-gmo-corn-ensures-biocultural-preservation/

Organic & Non-GMO Insights April 2025