Transgenic maize in Mexico: Challenges to food sovereignty

Abstract

Maize is part of the food, culture, economy, identity, and history of Mexico. Recently, a panel under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ruled in favor of the United States, stating that Mexico violates international trade agreements regarding the use of genetically modified maize. Therefore, the Mexican government lifted the ban on the importation of genetically modified maize for human consumption. The arrival of genetically modified maize threatens the food sovereignty of Mexican society, the biodiversity of native maize varieties, the gastronomy, and the cultural heritage of our country. Bicultural diversity refers to the interconnection between biological and cultural diversity. Mexico is home to around 59 native maize varieties. On the other hand, food sovereignty is the right of peoples to define their own policies and strategies regarding the production, distribution, and consumption of food, ensuring that they are healthy, culturally appropriate, and produced sustainably. Eating behavior, defined as the combination of knowledge and practices related to what organisms do to feed themselves, is influenced by biological, environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors. In this context, biodiversity and food sovereignty are crucial elements to understand how food practices and access to food are shaped. Additionally, for the preservation of native maize species in Mexico, it must be considered that economic policies also put the diversity of maize at risk. This work presents a perspective on the risks of adopting genetically modified maize in Mexico, the traditional Mexican diet, biodiversity, and the cultural rights of indigenous peoples.