The Government of Mexico City issued a decree with 11 actions to defend Mexican corn and prohibit the planting of transgenic corn in the territory, as part of a strategy to turn CDMX into a GMO-free area. This plan includes measures such as recognizing corn as the biocultural heritage of the city, protecting its genetic diversity, and promoting its production. In addition, the establishment of the Centli Network was created to promote agroecological production and a green quality seal for native corn.
The government also plans to implement agrotourism routes, a molecular analysis laboratory, a germplasm bank, and the creation of community tortilla shops. The establishment of these facilities aims to sell kilos of tortillas at affordable prices for the city's inhabitants, as part of a strategy to strengthen the production of native corn in the region. These establishments are expected to be located in the Utopias of CDMX, alongside seed houses that will contribute to increasing the production of native corn in Mexico.
The mayor of Mexico City, Clara Brugada, emphasized the importance of protecting corn as a sacred heritage for the peoples and joined this initiative in defense of species diversity in the country, which was also supported by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The latter expressed gratitude for the continuity of the project related to GMOs and highlighted the need to protect the variety of corn in the country.
In Mexico City, there are 9 races of corn produced in the municipalities of Tlalpan, Xochimilco, Milpa Alta, and Tláhuac by more than 3,000 producers. Although the exact cost of a kilo of tortilla in the new community tortilla shops has not been reported, it was assured that it will be accessible and below the current average of 23.31 pesos per kilo according to Profeco data.
