Centerpiece

Test plantings of GM corn on way in Mexico

Mexico

Over the past decade, the growing use of genetically modified crops has sparked hot debate on both sides of the equator. Rarely does the controversy ignite such passions, however, as when the country is Mexico and the crop at stake is corn. Considered corn’s center of origin, Mexico is home to some 60 different species and 200 hybrids of the plant, with its traditional varieties serving as a source for experimentation over centuries. Environmentalists fear that if the government permits the cultivation of bioengineered corn, this irreplaceable biodiversity could be lost as gene-altered varieties genetically contaminate native ones through cross-pollination. All of which helps explain why green advocates have reacted with fury to the Mexican government’s decision this month to open the way... [Log in to read more]

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