GMO Ban May Eliminate 42 percent of Mexican Agri-food GDP: CNA

During the inauguration of the Global Agri-food Forum 2022, Juan Cortina, President, the National Agricultural Council (CNA), warned that the ban on GMO corn imports set for 2024 by the government would eliminate 42 percent of the national agri-food Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Cortina qualified the ban as a matter of ideology and activism that makes little sense in a country like Mexico. “In a growing sector that has the capacity to feed 125 million Mexicans, we cannot put everything at risk just because of an ideological standpoint,” he said in an interview with El Financiero.

Luis Haro, Director, CNA, explained that Mexico’s livestock sector accounts for 42 percent of the national agri-food GDP. According to Haro, this sector depends on yellow corn imports and will be affected by the GMO ban. “The livestock sector depends on these corn imports since it is the largest consumer of yellow corn…We would not have enough raw material to feed the animals,” he said. Mexico’s livestock sector produces meat, beef, poultry and pork, as well as by-products like milk, eggs and other derivatives. 

One of the strongest criticisms of GMO products by supporters of the ban are the adverse health effects that such crops could bring to consumers. In this regard, Cortina stressed that this issue has been studied for over 40 years, and scientists have shown that GMOs are not a threat to public health. “In the US and 180 other countries, transgenic corn has been used for a long time and there has been no negative impact. Currently, non-transgenic production in the world is minimal, I think only Mexico and on a smaller scale South Africa still pursue traditional methods," he said.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of GMOs in satisfying the global food demand. “We must stop seeing science and technology as an enemy. Global food production will have to increase by 60 percent in 2050 to meet food demand for over 9 million people,” he said.

On the other hand, Chris Forbes, Canada’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said that science and technology can help address food security challenges with new crops, production and innovation to produce more with less land, reduce food waste and lessen the environmental impact.

President Lopez Obrador has stated he would not be pressured to import yellow corn, in a direct reaction to a letter sent by US senators to US trade representative Katherine Tai decrying the ban.