Mexico’s President Pushes to Ban GMO Corn Cultivation

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has proposed a constitutional reform to the Chamber of Deputies that aims to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) corn within the country. The proposed changes to Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution would recognize corn as a symbol of national identity and mandate that its cultivation be free from genetically modified organisms, encouraging agroecological farming practices.

For these proposed changes to be ratified, they will need to be approved by a majority in Congress and more than half of the state legislatures. If approved, Article 4 of the Constitution would be altered to include the following statement: "Every person has the right to nutritious, sufficient, and quality food. The State will guarantee it. Corn is an element of national identity whose cultivation should be free from transgenics, prioritizing its agroecological management."

Furthermore, Article 27 would be revised to state that the State will promote comprehensive rural development, ensuring the well-being of the peasant population and their participation in national development. This includes promoting agricultural and forestry activities, ensuring that corn cultivation is free from genetically modified organisms, and providing support with infrastructure, credit, and technical assistance.

This proposal comes at a time when Mexico recently lost a dispute within the framework of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (T-MEC) concerning GM corn. The Mexican government has voiced its disagreement with the decision, arguing that the measures in place are intended to protect public health and the rights of indigenous peoples.