by Luis Alcala / Avocado Insight Magazne
Atlanta, GA. — On March 17, Mexico enacted a landmark constitutional ban on growing transgenic corn, a reform led by President Claudia Sheinbaum amending Articles 4 and 27. «There is no country without corn,» she said at «La Mañanera del Pueblo,» prioritizing native varieties and food sovereignty. Imports, however, remain untouched after a 2024 T.M.E.C. ruling favoring the U.S. and Canada.
On public health, Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué and Science Secretary Rosaura Ruiz argue that avoiding transgenic corn cuts exposure to glyphosate, a herbicide linked to health risks like cancer and hormonal disruptions, per studies like Gilles-Eric Séralini’s (2012). Mexico imported a record 23.5 million tons of corn in 2024, worth $4.7 billion, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ana López Martínez of «Sin Maíz No Hay País» hails the cultural safeguard, but PAN lawmaker Luis Agustín Rodríguez warns local growers will struggle against cheaper imports. Nationally, Mexico is self-sufficient in white corn (for tortillas), producing 23 million tons in 2024, down from a 2016 peak of 28.1 million. The ban may boost native output, though experts doubt it will meet yellow corn demand. The Bank of Mexico slashed its 2025 growth forecast to 0.6%.
Sources: Official Gazette of Mexico, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bank of Mexico, La Jornada, GCMA.
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