MAIZALL welcomes the final report of the U.S., Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) panel concerning certain Mexican biotechnology measures, which was published on December 20, 2024. USMCA’s dispute panel sided with the U.S. government which had challenged Mexico’s 2023 Decree that banned the import of genetically modified (GM) corn for human consumption and aims to gradually phase out the use of yellow GM corn for animal feed and industrial use for human consumption.
The panel found that Mexico’s Decree was not based on science and ignored decades of safe use of- and trade in GM maize and other commodities.
“Biotech crops have been commercially cultivated since 1996 and have a 28-year history with no verified adverse impact on human or animal health or the environment. Ongoing science-based innovation is essential for food security.” said Bernhard Kiep, President of MAIZALL. The use of biotechnology improve yields and conserves the quality and biodiversity of the soil and the environment. This makes it easier to avoid tilling the soil, resulting in fewer field passes, pesticide applications and operations with machinery.
In Argentina, Brazil and the U.S., as in more than 70 countries around the world, each GM crop event is evaluated for cultivation and/or importation and use in food and feed by leading independent scientists as part of a rigorous process to ensure all approvals guarantee environmental and food safety.
MAIZALL urges the Mexican government to comply with the panel’s findings. Given the worldwide acceptance of GM corn and its proven operational, economic and environmental benefits, “farmers from Argentina, Brazil and the United States will not switch to non-GM corn production,” Kiep said.
MAIZALL is the International Alliance of Maize Growers, which brings together the corn growers of Argentina, Brazil and the United States. Together the MAIZALL countries grow 50 % of all maize across the world and between 70 and 80 % of global maize exports. More than 95 % of the maize grown in the three countries is genetically modified.
