Resumo

TURRENT FERNANDEZ, Antonio et al. Is the current transgenic maize technology advantageous to Mexico?. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.4, pp.631-646. ISSN 2007-0934.

In 2009, the Mexican government granted to several multinational enterprises (MNE) 24 permits to experiment with transgenic corn (MT) in 24 towns of the states of Sinaloa, Sonora, Chihuahua and Tamaulipas, with biosafety protocols against gene flow via pollen and via seed-pollen; there are 14 new applications in consideration. The fraction of corn agroecosystem of Mexico (AMM) sampled for these permits has 754 000 ha of irrigation, in a region cohabited by 5 ethnic groups and 29 native races of corn (RNM). To analyze the consequences for AMM of a hypothetical release of MT at commercial scale, it is analyzed: 1) mega-diversity of AMM; 2) available non-transgenic technology; and 3) risks in which the RNM incurs. The biosafety protocol of the experimental phase won't be applicable at commercial scale, and inevitably it will be replaced by something that it will ignore the gene flow via seed-pollen. This path is part of practices of the autochthonous genetic improvement, root of generation and advance of the RNM in the origin and diversification center, making unavoidable the genetic interaction MT*RNM. The 59 RNM are sown by 75 percent of AMM and they are key for the food safety and cultural uses of the corn as food; they are also part of non-transgenic technology that it would allow alimentary sufficiency by itself. It is concluded that the mega experiment of CMN in the AMM is unfavourable for Mexico, it is not required and must be prohibited.

Palavras-chave : agroecosystem; transgenic corn; corn breeds.