Overview

• President Claudia Sheinbaum said the federal government will soon present an ambitious program to support cultivation of native criollo maize.
• Officials reiterated that Mexico's Constitution prohibits planting transgenic maize, a measure they say helps shield native varieties.
• SEMARNAT highlighted documentation of 64 maize races nationwide, 59 native, adapted from sea level to about 3,400 meters across all 32 states.
• Agriculture data show maize output fell to 23.3 million tonnes in 2024 from roughly 27 million in typical years because of drought and higher input costs.
• Leaders credited campesino knowledge with preserving genetic diversity, contrasting reproducible native seed systems with commercial seeds purchased each cycle.