¨Sin Maize, No Hay Pais¨: Protecting Native Maize in Mexico

The oldest known examples of maize cultivation in the world have been traced to areas of Jalisco, and Oaxaca, Mexico. With over fifty varieties of the plant in cultivation, Mexico is the home and primary source of diversity for the species. Despite the important role Mexcio has to play in the preservation of this biodiversity, the country has opened its doors to experimentation with transgenic (GMO) varieties that have now begun to interbreed with native plants.
The history of transgenics in Mexico is unclear to say the least. The country did not officially permit GMO experimentation until last October (2009), but traces of transgenic genes were found in native crops in 2001, suggesting that trangenic seeds have been cultivated illegally in Mexico for many years. Now that the government has officially legalized specific GMO projects, groups are forming to raise awareness about the effects of trangenic gene contamination. http://endefensadelmaiz.org is one group that has organized a conference to address issue. The speakers highlighted campesinos who say that their seeds did not reproduce because of cross pollination with transgenics.
In Guadalahara I met representatives from an organization called IMDEC which also helped to produce the conference. One of the organizers, Pato, cultivates maize with beans and squash on the median of a busy street in Guadalajara.

His seeds, from a southeastern region of Jalisco called Valle de Juarez, are purple and red. They have been bred by the native farmers without the influence of transgenics. Pato gifted me a container of these seeds to spread to people interested in taking part in the preservation of the species.

The practice of seed banking is a very important project in the fight to maintain biodiversity. IMDEC works with local communities to educate people about the risks of GMOs and gives workshops on seed preservation. The organization also teaches people about land rights and helps them to organize in ways that are recognized by the government. From the grass roots of maize to the grass roots of social organizing, this movement, literally and metophorically, is planting seeds to protect the diversity of human culture and ecosystems in a world threatened by the dominance monoculture.