Most Mexican consumers who are familiar with their government’s ban on biotech corn for human consumption support the restriction and are willing to pay significantly higher prices for non-GMO foods, according to a study by University of Arkansas economists.
The survey found that 54% of Mexicans were unaware of the ban. But of those who are familiar with the prohibition, 77% support it, according to the study published in the journal Food Security.
“Regardless of the original motivation for the ban, our results show that it may be politically popular,” the authors of the study wrote.
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On average, the consumers who were surveyed were willing to pay 73% more for chicken and 50% more for eggs or tortillas produced with non-biotech corn. Consumers who were aware of the ban and also supported it were willing to pay even bigger premiums – 91% more for chicken, 71% more for eggs and 66% more for tortillas, the survey found.
Low-income Mexicans who were unaware of the ban don't want to pay nearly that much. People with incomes of less than $350 a year were willing to pay premiums of 46% for chicken, 21% for eggs and 25% for tortillas.
A U.S-Mexico-Canada trade agreement dispute panel is expected to issue a decision soon on a U.S. challenge to the ban.
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