Mexico City – Mexico drew praise and criticism Wednesday for its decision to refuse requests from several multinational companies to start experimental planting of genetically modified corn.
Environmentalists applauded the move, saying that biotech corn contaminates native varieties of the plant in Mexico, the birthplace of corn and still a storehouse of genetically valuable native species.
“In principle, we see this as positive because it sets a negative precedent for the authorization of planting genetically modified corn,” said Gustavo Ampugnani of Greenpeace Mexico. “It’s positive, but it’s not a definitive decision.”
Some were not as happy about the decision, announced late Monday by Mexico’s Agriculture Department. Columnist Sergio Sarmiento, writing in the newspaper Reforma, called it “cowardly.”
“This is already in use in many parts of the world, and it has enormous benefits, both in terms of the environment and production, given that it reduces pesticide use,” he said.
Even environmentalists don’t think Monday’s decision is the last word.
“This is temporary because there is so much pressure from the multinationals,” Ampugnani said. “They are going to put a lot of pressure on the incoming administration” of Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon, who takes office Dec. 1.
“Mexico is a potential market for them in genetically modified seeds, and that market is closed at present,” he said. “These companies aren’t going to accept another six years of indefinition.”
Monday’s decision turned down all seven requests filed by companies such as Monsanto and DuPont’s Pioneer Hi- Bred International subsidiary.
“We were surprised by this decision,” said Eduardo Perez Pico, director of technological development at Monsanto’s Mexico subsidiary, which had applied to start experimental fields in the northern states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Tamaulipas. “These are not centers of origin or biodiversity of corn,” he said, referring to the areas where corn ancestor plants or primitive varieties grow naturally.
Under current law, such areas would be off-limits to biotech planting, in part to protect the genetic traits of those ancestor varieties in case they are needed for hybridization efforts in the future.
