NEWS: GM Crops: Transgenic Pact Signed by Growers
The Meridian Institute
April 20, 2007
Excerpt...
Mexico's National Confederation of Corn Producers (CNPAMM), which is affiliated with the umbrella agriculture association National Campensino Confederation (CNC), has signed an agreement with Monsanto Company to move towards the introduction of genetically modified (GM) maize in Mexico. Under the first phase of the agreed plan, GM seeds will be tested for safety and productivity beginning this year. Next year in a second phase, selected GM maize seeds will be planted but not sold commercially, and if all goes well, the seeds could be grown commercially as early as 2009. The agreement includes a plan to protect Mexico's indigenous maize varieties. Nevertheless, the article says the deal is certain to be opposed by environmental groups, which have resisted GM maize partly on the grounds that it could threaten native maize. CNC President Cruz López comments that Mexican maize farmers have suffered from being "frozen out" of GM maize technology. "Our position is that biotechnology must be introduced, while respecting Mexican corn," he says. López calls opponents "confused" and "dogmatic." "We´re satisfied," López says, "that seed companies such as Monsanto are cooperating with the protection of Mexico´s native corn." Mexico has passed a Biosecurity and Genetically Improved Organism law, which regulates the introduction of GM crops....
Excerpt of original article...
Transgenic Pact Signed by Growers
El Universal
Kelly Arthur Garrett
April 20, 2007
Concerned that Mexico has yet to join competing nations in the development of genetically altered food crops, the nation´s corn growers signed an agreement with agribusiness giant Monsanto Wednesday to buy and plant genetically altered seeds.
The National Confederation of Corn Producers (CNPAMM), which is affiliated with the umbrella agriculture association National Campesino Confederation (CNC) had been in negotiations with Monsanto for months to come up with a plan to convert some of the nation´s corn crops to "technically improved" seeds in order to resist plague and increase production.
At a signing ceremony Wednesday, the corn growers presented the agreement as a plan to protect Mexico´s indigenous corn strains, as well as to introduce transgenic seeding.
Nevertheless, the accord is certain to run into opposition from environmental groups, which have resisted the introduction of genetically altered seeds partly on the grounds that they would threaten native corn.
"Our position is that biotechnology must be introduced, while respecting Mexican corn," said CNC president Cruz López. "We´re satisfied that seed companies such as Monsanto are cooperating with the protection of Mexico´s native corn."
Cruz said Mexican corn growers have suffered the consequences of being "frozen out" of transgenic corn technology. He called opponents "confused" and "dogmatic."
Under the plan, seeds that have been genetically altered will be tested experimentally for yield and safety beginning this year.
In phase 2 next year, selected seeds will be put through a growing cycle but will not be sold commercially.
If all goes well, commercial corn grown from transgenic seeds will be planted by 2009 at the earliest....
Full article at El Universal .
