A coalition of food and agriculture industry stakeholders in both Mexico and the United States released a new study this week revealing the broad impacts of Mexico’s proposed ban on biotech corn. The report, which was conducted in September 2022 by World Perspectives Inc., reveals that the proposed restrictions would adversely impact food security in North America and raise consumer prices for corn, basic foods, and other critical products derived from corn, particularly in Mexico.

Should the proposed restrictions be implemented, the study found that the average cost of corn would increase 19% and tortilla prices would rise 16% on average. In the first year of the ban, non-GM corn prices would rise 48% to $8.14/bushel and Mexico would pay an additional $571 million for imported corn. Price increases in corn protein, fiber, oil, and thousands of processed foods distributed by tens of thousands of Mexican food retailers would all incur price increases.

“American farmers are not going to stop growing GMO corn,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Tom Haag during a press conference Tuesday. “It would be a loss for American farmers but it would also increase the cost of food in Mexico.”

NCGA is one member of the coalition that sponsored the study, which also included the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), US Grains Council, Mexico’s National Agriculture Council, the U.S. Grains Council, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and many others.