By: Nuria Becerril

The increase in the need of transgenic plant cultures for human consumption in the world has raised about 44% in 1999 when compared to 1998 according to data from the AAASI, which is an institute specialized in genetically modified organisms (GMO) quantification. These organisms are cultivated mainly in the United States.

Mexico has assigned, according to AAASI data, 30,000 hectares of land to cultivate transgenic tomato and cotton among other GMOs. Mexico has also developed experimental cultures of corn, hot pepper, rice, squash, and potato among other organisms. Additionally, Mexico imports about 80 million tons of corn per year, 70% of which comes from genetically modified corn.

In the Cartagena Agreement, Mexico ratified its position in favor of avoiding the releasing of GMOs to the environment in the country of origin of said organisms, because of the high erosion level that said GMOs provoke.

Moreover, since April 1999, the parlamentary group of the Ecologist Green Party has proposed an initiative for a Bio-Safety Law for Genetically Modified Organisms to regulate the distribution and handling of GMOs, in order to ameliorate or even erradicate the risks in the manipulation of GMOs, which expose the ecological stability of the enviroment and the preservation of its species.

Sources:

  • Ita, Ana de, "Estado, mercado y OGM", La Jornada, martes 3 de agosto de 1999 (www.nuclecu.unam.mx/ jornada/990803.dir)
  • Ita, Ana de, "Vidas cruzadas: transgénicos, campesinos y consumidores", La Jornada, domingo 23 de mayo de 1999. (www.serpiente.dgsca.unam.mx/jornada/1999/may99/990523/mas-seattle.html)
  • "Las ventas de cultivos modificados genéticamente crecen del 30% hasta 380 millardos", (www.biotechknowledge.com)
  • Ley de Bioseguridad y Sanidad de Organismos Vivos y Material Genético,

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