Gruma, CIMMYT Campaign for Food Security in Campeche
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Gruma, CIMMYT Campaign for Food Security in Campeche

Photo by:   Lewis Braid - Unsplash
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Eliza Galeana By Eliza Galeana | Junior Journalist & Industry Analyst - Mon, 12/12/2022 - 16:29

Global food company Gruma and the International Corn and Wheat Centre (CIMMYT) announced their alliance to promote Campeche 500, a joint initiative that aims to boost the local production of white corn in the state of Campeche. The program’s goal is to harvest 500ha of white corn to encourage the production of high-quality local products.

In 2018, GRUMA and CIMMYT signed the collaboration agreement "Technological Support and Research Program for Sustainable Corn Production," as they looked to enhance the productivity of small-scale white corn farmers and boost food security. At first, the initiative was focused on farmers of the state of Tamaulipas, where production of 3,500 tons of white corn on 500ha was achieved. The project began with 10ha between 2018 and 2019. It reached 90ha in 2021 and finally summed up to 500ha by 2022.

Boosted by the initiative, white corn production in Tamaulipas is expected to increase the sown area to 5,000ha during the autumn/winter harvest cycle from 2022 to 2023.  

In addition to Gruma and the CIMMYT, the project is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and the National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research (INIFAP). In 2019, SADER participated in the Tamaulipas initiative through the implementation of The Welfare Production Program and its Technical Support Strategy (EAT). This helped launch a plan that incorporated the Peasant Agriculture Method of Integrated Knowledge and Integrated Management of Induced Crops (ACCI-MICI) to address health problems, raise yields and foster the agroecological transition in Tamaulipas. 

Campeche 500 will implement the INIFAP Technological Package, which involves irrigation opportunities and pest management techniques. Furthermore, the project will adopt the EAT and ACCI-MICI structures that care for the optimal microbiological balance of the soil, and responsible use of biofertilizers. Biocontrol technology will also be applied, as well as the use of hybrids adapted to the region.

This project was born as a response to the global food crisis, which is a result of different factors including climate change, countryside abandonment, the COVID - 19 pandemic and the Russia - Ukraine conflict. “In this scenario, Gruma considered that local food supply systems should be promoted in order to be less dependent on food imports,” the company stated. 

GRUMA and the CIMMYT stressed they will share the knowledge obtained from the Campeche 500 Program so that similar programs can be replicated worldwide for local grain production. 

In 2018, Gruma committed to contributing US$290,000 per year, and to date, its investment has reached US$1.5 million.

Photo by:   Lewis Braid - Unsplash

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