Corrected context in Oct 20 article regarding seed patents, paragraph 7.

Tom Polansek

ANKENY. Iowa (Reuters). Mexico’s agricultural minister stated that the country will not curb imports of GMO (genetically modified) corn from the United States at a meeting held in Mexico with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Mexico released an executive decree late last year, which sought to prohibit GMO corn use for human consumption within three years. It did not identify what products it would include, creating confusion in the industry. By 2024, the government would replace imports by local production.

Mexico is number 2. After China, Mexico is America’s second-largest buyer of U.S. corn. Victor Villalobos, the Mexican Agriculture Minister, stated that Mexico will not permit the cultivation of GMO crops but will allow US imports.

He said to reporters that Mexico will not stop requesting yellow corn from the United States. Mexico was dependent on yellow corn, he stated.

Vilsack indicated that seeds would be next on the list of things the Department of Agriculture will investigate under the Biden Administration order regarding competition.

Vilsack stated that the administration will take a closer look at the industry to see “why it is structured in the way it is.” Vilsack said, “You have to wonder if long patents really make sense.”

Companies, including Bayer AG (DE: Corteva (NYSE) Inc. Develop genetically modified seed and herbicides. This is something that no other company can do once a patent expires unless it pays the patent holder. Bayer (OTC) was acquired Monsanto The US market has had a long-standing dominance of (NYSE:) since 2016.

Bayer und Corteva have not yet responded to inquiries for comment.