Faced with the possibility that Mexico will lose the panel of controversies against the United States over Mexican barriers to transgenic corn, President Claudia Shienbaum Pardo assured yesterday that the best defense for biodiversity and health is to elevate to constitutional rank the prohibition of corn white of national origin is genetically modified.
The Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, reported last Wednesday that Mexico is at risk of losing the arbitration, according to a preliminary report, although the process will end in December.
Sheinbaum indicated that the initiative to eliminate the production of transgenic white corn in the country is about to be approved in the Chamber of Deputies, as part of the package of constitutional reform proposals sent by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
He maintained that the nation is self-sufficient in grain production and we have the obligation, as a government, to conserve our biodiversity, and it is not only animal and plant biodiversity, but also genetic
. Therefore, he insisted, our duty is to preserve all varieties of corn
.
Last year, Mexico imported more than 18 million tons, almost all of yellow grain, intended for fodder, and a little less than 2 percent of white corn, which goes for human consumption.
The United States requested the controversy panel in June 2023 in reaction to a decree of February 13 of that year, by which the López Obrador administration prohibited the use of genetically modified corn in tortillas or dough, among other restrictions.
Sheinbaum said that there are those who think that genetically modified organisms cause health damage, but there is an additional problem, he warned: that the farmer always depends on the seed
and, before planting hybrid corn, The genetic diversity of the corn that emerged from our towns and has continued to be conserved is lost.
.
Therefore, he maintained, We have the main obligation that the white corn that is planted in Mexico is not genetically modified, and that will remain in the Constitution
. He announced that the commercial rules for yellow grain, which mainly feed birds or for meat production, it will be seen
.
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#ban #genetically #modified #corn #constitutional #Sheinbaum
–
– What role do indigenous farming practices play in preserving the genetic diversity of Mexican corn, and how can these practices be supported?
1. Theme: Importance of preserving genetic diversity in Mexican corn varieties
– What will be the impact on Mexico’s food security if the country loses the panel on genetically modified corn imports from the United States?
– How important is it for Mexico to maintain its traditional varieties of corn, particularly those that are not genetically modified, to preserve cultural heritage and biodiversity?
– What measures is the government taking to support small-scale corn farmers who rely on indigenous varieties for their livelihoods, especially in light of the push for genetically modified seeds?
2. Theme: Health concerns related to consuming genetically modified crops
– There are mixed opinions about the safety of consuming genetically modified foods. What are some of the health risks or benefits that have been identified in relation to consuming genetically modified corn, particularly in Mexico where it is predominantly used for human consumption?
– Are there any potential economic advantages or disadvantages for Mexico if it continues to ban genetically modified corn?
– How does the government plan to address concerns from international trade partners who may argue that the ban on genetically modified white corn is an unfair trade barrier?
