US Farmers React to Mexico's Proposed Ban on Genetically Modified Corn

     Several U.S. farmers have come out in support of their neighbor’s policy to restrict the imports of genetically modified (GM) corn.

The Matter

     It is possible that the export of genetically modified corn to Mexico might exacerbate the existing trade conflict. Perhaps, they could also earn a premium for growing more conventional corn as per the analysis of the believers of a free market. Fred Huddlestun, who grows GM corn and soybeans in Yale, Illinois said “I'm all for free and fair trade. When they get to the point they're pushing somebody to buy something they don't want, then I have concerns about that."

     Mexico’s plans to ban GM corn for consumption have the potential to hamper 95% of the country’s total corn imports amounting to nearly $5 billion of corn the U.S. ships to Mexico annually.

Reactions to The Proposal

     The proposed restrictions have drawn mixed reviews from the people who are involved in this sector. While the supporters advocated against the import of GM corn stating that it can contaminate Mexico's age-old native varieties, causing an impact on the consumers’ health, Matt Swanson, a farmer who grows non-GM corn and is an opposer of the policy tweeted, “(NCGA has appeared intent on) ramming potential unwanted grain down our trade partners (sic) throats".

     Apart from this policy, there is also an ongoing debate regarding seed companies. Greg Gunthorp, an Indiana pork and poultry farmer who requires non-GM corn to feed his livestock for producing premium meat products said, "It seems to me like the secretary and this administration are not standing up for all farmers. What they're really standing up for are the big companies." The seed companies that are caught up in this dispute are Bayer AG, Corteva Inc., and ChemChina's Syngenta who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in the development of GM crops and defending the safety of GM foods.

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