Mexico to proceed with GMO corn ban, seeks international grain deals

Mexico is considering direct agreements with farmers in the United States, Argentina and Brazil to secure non-genetically modified yellow corn imports, the country's deputy agriculture minister said, adding that a 2024 ban on GM corn would not be amended. Deputy Agriculture Minister Victor Suarez told Reuters Mexico is on track to halve its U.S. imports of yellow corn, used primarily for livestock feed, when the ban comes into effect in 2024 via increased domestic production. To make up the remaining gap, the country will look at making deals with farmers in other countries to grow non-GM corn and sell it to Mexico, Suarez said. There are many alternatives to importing non-GMO yellow corn from the United States," Suarez said in an interview on Wednesday.

It was the strongest indication yet from Mexico's Agriculture Ministry that the ban will hit yellow corn destined for livestock feed. It appeared to reverse assurances Agriculture Minister Victor Villalobos made to his U.S. counterpart last year, that Mexico would not limit imports of genetically modified (GMO) corn from the United States. Mexico - one of the world's largest buyers of corn - currently imports some 17 million tonnes of U.S. grain a year, the vast majority of it yellow corn for animal feed. The 2020 decree by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador aims to phase out GM corn and the herbicide glyphosate by 2024. Supporters say GM seeds can contaminate Mexico's age-old native varieties, and point to research showing adverse effects of glyphosate. (Source Reuters)