May 25, 2007

Mexico approves use of GM corn seed

Mexico-the birthplace of all the world's corn-has signed an agreement to buy and plant genetically modified corn for testing, with a view to eventual commercial use.

The agreement was signed with Mexico's National Confederation of Corn Growers and biotech giant Monsanto.

Carlos Salazar, president of the confederation, predicts that more than 90 percent of small and medium growers will utilise genetically modified seeds to improve their productivity.

Monsanto will provide Mexican producers the genetically modified corn seeds and at the same time, initiate activities to protect native corn, including setting-up a corn germplasm bank.

Francisco Lopez, Mexico's Vice-Minister of Agriculture, said the policies for experimental sowing of genetically modified will be published soon by the Parliament's chamber of deputies. Genetically modified corn experiments will begin in the northern state of Sonora in August.

Jesus Madrazo, president of Monsanto Mexico, said the commercialisation of genetically modified corn is set to begin in 2010, once the evaluation segments required by the biosecurity laws have been completed.

Mexico is home to 3, 500 varieties of corn and is one of the main food crop. The grain employs almost 12-million people in the country's agriculture sector.

Many environmental and indigenous groups opposed the introduction of genetically modified plants, fearing that they might contaminate native varieties of corn in the country.