Transgenic corn, food sovereignty and human rights in Mexico
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Abstract
Mexico is a megadiverse country, also the centre of origin and diversification of maize and one of the leading producers of the crop worldwide. For the Mexican population, corn is the staple diet and an essential element of their culture and worldview. The attempts of the multinational biotechnology corporations to introduce genetically modified maize to the country threaten the Mexican biodiversity and agricultural balance, and could also impact food sovereignty and fundamental human rights, particularly the right to an adequate and healthy diet. This paper explores the relationship between human rights and the potential planting of transgenic corn at a commercial level in Mexico, where the legal and institutional framework is not yet ready to address the risks that genetically modified organisms entail.