Mexico To Replace US Grain Imports Through Non-GM Yellow Corn

Experts at a university in Mexico revealed that the country is all set to produce more non-GM yellow corn seeds, which will replace grain imports from the United States.

The operational manager of the Autonomous University of Chapingo's corn seed production project, Claudio Carballo, explained last week that they are going to make "available to the producer the seed that they need and the technological package to achieve the desired yields," Reuters reported.

Non-GM food items are those that are not genetically modified. Whereas, Mexico's top trading partner, the United States, exports genetically modified (GM) corn, and the North American country is planning to limit the use of GM grain.

The researchers at the university located on the northeastern flank of Mexico City said that the fields were planted in May, and now they are generating new strands of hybrid seed, which will be tested next year and released for planting in 2025.

With the help of this project, Mexico will be able to develop enough non-GM seed varieties that can be cultivable in the next two years so that the country can replace six million of the 18 million metric tons of GM yellow corn imported from the United States every year.

The Mexican government is looking forward to banning GM corn for day-to-day consumption, as it has a negative impact on human health. However, GM corn is still used to feed livestock and in industries for making cosmetics and processed food items.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador noted earlier this year that the country needs to reduce its dependency on the United States for corn imports. Mexican Deputy Agriculture Minister Victor Suarez previously shared that replacing 10 to 15 percent of U.S. imported corn is a realistic goal.

A coordinator for the Chapingo project named Romel Olivares explained the dependency on United States corn and compared it with people's financial status.

"It's like people's income - if it's not enough, then they're dependent on someone. It's that simple," Olivares said, adding, "A country is the same."

Considering trade between both countries, Mexico exports computers, cars, motor vehicles; parts and accessories to the United States and imports refined petroleum, motor vehicles; parts and accessories and petroleum gas, as per the OEC.