#5: Made of Corn

May 20, 2020

This episode features James L. Frederick, a producer and narrator who dives into the complexities of genetically modified maize in Mexico, and Aldo González, an indigenous activist who champions the campesino movement. They explore the startling discovery of GM corn in Oaxaca and the grassroots mobilization that followed, linking it to broader issues like NAFTA. The discussion highlights maize's cultural significance and the ongoing legal battles over its protection, showcasing the ongoing tension between corporate interests and indigenous rights.

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INSIGHT

Precautionary Principle Applied To Maize

The CEC recommended applying the precautionary principle due to uncertain but potentially irreversible risks.
They urged strengthening the moratorium until more research protected indigenous farmers.

INSIGHT

Policy Clash: Culture Versus Economic Science

Governments criticized the CEC for valuing cultural concerns over 'objective' science and economic benefits.
That tension framed how precautionary recommendations were received politically.

ANECDOTE

Milpa Farmers Reject Outside Seeds

Farmers in Santa Gertrudis described corn as essential and resisted 'improved' seeds.
They showed traditional seed-selection techniques that function like community-level genetic improvement.

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When genetically modified corn was found in the highlands of Mexico, Indigenous campesino groups took to the streets to protect their cultural heritage, setting off a 20-year legal saga.

———-PROGRAMMING NOTE———-

This two of our series on genetically modified maize. If you haven’t already, listen to the first episode first. You can find it in this feed.

———-MORE———-

This episode has loads more information, citations, and resources. You can find those on our website, citedpodcast.com. Research assistant James Rhatigan has an article on the promise and limitations of the precautionary principle, and another on the intellectual history of liberal environmental thought. Also, we have a transcript.

———-FOLLOW CITED———-

For more, follow Cited on Twitter, Facebook, and citedpodcast.com. Plus, send us your feedback to info@citedmedia.ca–we might just read it on the show.

———-CREDITS———-

This episode was produced by James L. Frederick and Polly Leger. Editing by Acey Rowe and Gordon Katic. James Rhatigan was our research assistant. Fact checking by Aurora Tejeida

Our theme song and original music is by our composer, Mike Barber. Dakota Koop is our graphic designer. Our production manager is David Tobiasz, and executive producers are Gordon Katic and Sam Fenn.

Thank you to: Ana de Ita Rubio , Santiago Muñoz and Daniela Moreno from the Maizajo tortilla shop, Silvia Ribeiro from ETC Group, and Natasha Pizzey Siegert.

This episode was funded in part by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This is part of wider project challenging ideas in liberal environmental thought. The project was advised by Jessica Dempsey at the University of British Columbia, and Rosemary Collard from Simon Fraser University.

Cited is produced out of the Centre of Ethics at the University of Toronto, which is on the traditional land of Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples. Cited is also produced out of the Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia — that’s on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.