Mexico's Organic Farming Society (SOMXPRO) -Sociedad Mexicana de Producción Organica AC in Spanish- celebrated the initiative of the Federal Government to gradually ban the use of glyphosate in national agriculture, until its total elimination in 2024. "More than 300,000 organic producers in Mexico do not use glyphosate in our crops. However we have been subjected to external contamination of this substance, a fact that has caused economic losses to organic producers," stated Homero Blas Bustamante, the president of SOMXPRO.
SOMXPRO also proposed establishing measures so consumers can identify glyphosate-free foods via a label, in order to guarantee Mexicans the right to choose a healthy diet.
"We urgently need to reinforce a policy of organic and agro-ecological agriculture in Mexico. The population is demanding this type of food and, in the absence of national production, imports of organic products -mainly from the United States, but also from Europe, Asia, and Latin America- are growing," stated Blas Bustamante, who is also a member of the National Council for Organic Production. He called on consumers to demand their right to a healthy and sustainable diet.
He assured that organic farmers both in Mexico and worldwide are showing that glyphosate is not necessary for agriculture and that, like other agrochemicals, it should be prohibited under the precautionary principle.
The Federal Government has already decreed the actions that the agencies and entities that make up the Federal Public Administration will take to gradually replace the use, acquisition, distribution, promotion, and importation of glyphosate.
Source: la-prensa.com.mx