South African GM maize contaminates the worldOfficial GM maize exports can be found athttp://www.nda.agric.za, but investigators already found it in many more countries.South Africa exports unapproved GM maize to Zimbabwe and continues to export to Mexico,contaminating both the region and the center of origin of maize. According to a spokesperson for the FoodMattersZimbabwe group, Zimbabweans are under the impression that maize would be imported from Zambia and will be deeply upset by this news to import GM maize from South Africa. The government of Zimbabwe is currently promoting the use of open pollinated varieties (OPVs) of seed to strengthen our farmers self-reliance. The importation of GM maize poses a serious risk of contaminating our OPV varieties; at the very least this GM maize must be milled before entering the country. However, a cloud hangs over the legality of the shipments and whether the South African GMO authorities have indeed received an explicit written approval from the Zimbabwean government for the importation of the GM maize. Maize is central to the diet and culture of the Mexican people and peasant leaders have embarked upon hunger strikes in January this year to protest plans to cultivate GM maize in the country. Indeed, there is widespread opposition to GM maize in Mexico, with scientists, farmers, consumers, students, environmental organizations and others also protesting against GM maize. After his official visit to Mexico in 2011, UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food Olivier de Schutter recommended the immediate reinstatement of the moratorium against GM maize established as far back as 1999. What makes this GM export even more unacceptable is that at least 150,000 tons of non-GM maize produced by Mexican farmers have been in storage for three months and remain unsold, but companies prefer to import GM maize from South Africa, despite all the associated transport and environmental costs. Mexico doesnt need to import maize for its own population, as the domestic production not only meets, but also exceeds human consumption needs. These imports are intended for animal feed in industrial production that is controlled by transnational companies. The maize traded from both ends serves only the need and greed of corporations, said Silvia Ribeiro from ETC Group, in Mexico. This is yet more depressing evidence that the primary purpose of our food system is not to provide adequate, affordable and nutritious food for all South Africans, but to ensure the continuing profitability of some of the worlds largest agribusiness corporations, concluded Mariam Mayet, Director of the ACB. The list of permits granted by the South African GMO authorities authorising the GM maize exports can be found on the www.nda.agric.za website. Contacts: African Centre for Biosafety FoodMattersZimbabwe CTDT ETC Group The African Centre for Biosafety linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 