July 10, 2002

In September 2001, scientists announced the discovery of genetically engineered (GE) corn growing in 15 different locations in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mexico is one of the countries that has outlawed the commercial use of all GE crops. How the corn came to be there is a mystery.

Mexico has been cultivating indigenous corn, a New World grain, for over 5500 years. As a result, Oaxaca contains the greatest diversity of genetic varieties of corn in the world. It is imperative that this diversity be preserved. Diversification maintains the vigor of a species and allows botanists to hybridize seeds in order to create newer varieties. These new varieties may bear larger harvests, be more drought or pest resistant, or be an improvement over the current varieties in some other way.

The U. S. has been growing GE corn since 1996, and it is estimated that 26% of the corn grown is genetically engineered. It is possible that the GE seeds were intentionally spread to Mexico by corporations or governments intent on promoting GE crops. It also is possible that birds or the wind carried GE seeds from the U. S. to Oaxaca, a remote region of Mexico. Whatever the reason, Oaxaca is now vulnerable to GE seed contamination.

If the GE seed has spread via natural means, the seed is more dangerous than previously suspected. There may be no way to keep crops safe from GE seed contamination. GE corn tends to grow aggressively and may drive native species to extinction. If wild perennial corn becomes extinct, botanists may never achieve their long-time goal of developing a cultivated perennial corn.

The U. S. is leading the world in cultivating GE seeds and crops, but it is doing so without fully exploring all the ramifications involved. The European Union is in accord with the U. S. population, which has voiced its wariness of GE foods and its desire to require labeling of them as such (Environmental News Network). So far, this has not been done. The future of our food supply is at stake.

There is much more to this issue than has been presented here. For more information, see Rachel's Environment & Health News and the upcoming August issue of the Spirit of Ma'at.