00:00In other topic, in Mexico, corn is constitutionally considered an element of national identity,
00:07which is why since last March the planting of genetically modified corn has been prohibited in the country.
00:13Antonio Aranda gives us more details.
00:16El maíz es una semilla tan importante que los antiguos...
00:19Corn is such an important seed that the ancient Mesoamericans considered it sacred.
00:23The basis of the Mexican diet, in recent years, traditional producers have defended their genetic and cultural diversity against the risks of genetically modified corn.
00:36Es muy importante para apoyar al productor también.
00:38It is very important to support the producer as well and value their work, because if they do not have an income that pays them well for their corn, they cannot work.
00:45No pueden trabajar. Hay que darle prioridad al campo. Ellos no ganan mucho. Es su productor.
00:53We must give priority to the countryside. They don't earn much for their product. They pay very little.
00:57So we must support the producers, because without them there is no food.
01:04To promote recognition of traditional producers and the preservation of their knowledge, the Corn and Agro Biodiversity Fair was held.
01:15Biodiversity conservation is directly related to understanding the culture of each seed and everything that goes into planting it.
01:21And these types of events are very important, because we need people who live in the city to be aware of the great biological value we have in the city, in the south, which we protect, and also all that access to the potential healthy food we could have.
01:34The Corn and Agro Biodiversity Fair is also a cultural, environmental, and gastronomic event that visitors enjoy.
01:46Mexico is still a country that lives with inequality, and people who still depend on the countryside, so we see that we have to work on that, because we live off it.
01:55We continue to eat vegetables, raise livestock, and do everything else that has to do with the countryside if we don't take care of it.
02:01Where are we going to live?
02:02We must conserve it and preserve it, because it is the source of our food.
02:10Furthermore, if we produce it and continue to maintain production as our ancestors did, then we continue to maintain healthy, nutritious food.
02:19Why?
02:20Because, ultimately, that is our food, the fundamental basis of our diet.
02:25In addition to this, we must protect the environment.
02:28The Corn Fair is part of the Mexico City Government's efforts to protect and strengthen the production of native corn on conservation land.
02:49In addition, the aim is to increase the production of this seed by 15% by the end of this year's growing season.
02:57Antonio Aranda, Telesur, Ciudad de México.
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