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Corn Nuts.(NORTH AMERICA)(genetically modified corn in Mexico and Japan)
- Article from:
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Earth Island Journal
- Article date:
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June 22, 2008
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2008 Earth Island Institute. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Many small farmers in Mexico are outraged by a recent government decision to allow the experimental planting of some strains of genetically modified (GM) corn.
Corn was domesticated in Mexico and has been grown there for as long as 9,000 years. Home to more than 10,000 varieties of corn, Mexico is just now allowing the cultivation of GM corn, a move that some fear could irreversibly alter the genetic diversity of the crop.
To date, Mexico has resisted following the path of the US, where more than 70 percent of corn crops are genetically modified. While the experimental planting of GM corn seeds will be allowed only in those parts of the country that are far from the ...