Mexican GMO corn phase-out a concern for US farmers

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Mexican GMO corn phase-out a concern for US farmers

Mexico’s decision to ban the cultivation and use of genetically modified corn for human consumption by 2024 is a big concern for US corn farmers.

Aledo, Illinois farmer Kate Danner says that US corn exports could take a big hit.

“The US is 95% of their corn imports and it is GMO, so that’s kind of a concern about how the Mexican government wants to go about that policy and also how that really works with USMCA (US, Mexico, Canada Agreement).”

US Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand tells Brownfield it is still unclear if the ban includes corn for livestock feed.

“It is very much a grey area and we are hoping that the Biden Administration takes this up in hopefully their first days or very quickly once they get started.”

LeGrand says what IS clear is that Mexico needs US corn and the US needs Mexico as a customer, so it is a priority issue to work out with the Mexican government.

Mexico issued a decree on December 31^st to revoke and refrain from granting authorizations for the use of genetically modified corn grain in the diet of Mexican men and women until is fully replaced no later than January 31, 2024 in coordination with the country’s food self sufficiency policies. The decree also included the phase out of glyphosate use.

Danner serves as an At-Large director for the Illinois Corn Growers Association and chairs the Production Technology Access Action team for the National Corn Growers Association.