According to a Reuters article from last week, The Mexican Agriculture Ministry will issue two permits to grow experimental plots of GM corn in regions where there are no native corn varieties. This will put the "birthplace" of corn in the hotbed of controversy over GM foods, but many feel it will help with productivity. The article further states that some Northern Mexico farmers were getting in the game early by illegally growing GM corn prior to any government approval of permits. Supposedly, thirty-five businesses have applied for the permits, including Monsanto.
This battle has gone back over the years, as it was always acceptable to consume GM corn in Mexico, but not plant or grow it. It was said that many farmers ignored this and planted the seeds anyway therefore causing an unintended spread of GM corn within Mexican fields. The report that is the centerpiece of this 2004 Washington Post article states that the proliferation of GM corn in Mexico was also contributed to cross-pollination (a.k.a. genetic drift). That about scares the hell out of most, so its understandable way many fears begin to align in these debates. We'll see how this further develops as this process gives us very interesting insight into the development of biotech plan and attitude that swirled by many of us in the US.
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