Corn (Maize) Production and Importation in Contemporary Mexico

So much of food politics swirls around corn at the moment: denunciations of corn as the cause of growing obesity or the poster child for agribusiness; the problems of CM crops; the economics of biofuel; and how American corn politics affects other parts of the world.

And of these other parts of the world, few are more impacted than Mexico. Mexico is the land of corn, the place of its invention, the place where activists today chant “Sin maíz no hay país“–without maize, no country or homeland or nation. Last week more demonstrations were organized (organized is the operative word) in Mexico City against NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement or TLCAN in Mexico).

With emotions running so high, it’s almost impossible to figure out what is actually going on. So I was especially glad to see Sergio Sarmiento‘s editorial (under the pen name Jaque Mate) in Reforma on the 1st of February. Too bad he doesn’t list his sources but more on that later. For now, here are some interesting facts and figures.

But before we get started, when talking about corn in Mexico, it is essential to distinguish between white and yellow corn. No, white is not that super-sugary white you get in the US. White is what the US calls field corn, starchy, terrific non-sweet flavor, and the essential base for Mexico’s flat bread (tortillas) and steamed dumplings (tamales).

Now, according to Sarmiento,

1. Mexico remains self sufficient in white corn for tortillas and tamales.

2. Between 1970 and today, corn production in Mexico has risen from 8.9 million tons to 21 million tons.

3. This has been done by using modern agricultural methods. The acreage has essentially not changed while the output has almost tripled.

4. Imports of corn have also soared in the same period from 2 million tons a year to between 6 and 8 million tons. Almost all of this is yellow corn, destined for animal feed and for high fructose corn syrup.

5. With so much imported yellow corn (and sorghum and soy) now available, Mexico has become the world’s fourth largest producer of chicken and eggs, and its sixth largest producer of pork. Roughly speaking these have increased from 4.5 million tons a year in 1970 to 7.5 million tons now.

And so? Mexico is still producing enough white corn for human consumption. And it’s producing chicken, eggs and pork as well. A net gain of quite incredible proportions. When I came to Mexico ten years ago, the poor in the country around here ate very little meat. Now, at least in this area of Mexico which is relatively wealthy, they take it for granted.

There’s more about this and about Mexico’s agricultural subsidies, but the latter make my head ache, so I’ll leave them for later.

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