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MAIZALL expanding market access for biotech corn

The second vice president of the International Maize Alliance (MAIZALL) says collaboration between North and South America is leading to fewer market barriers related to biotechnology.

MAIZALL was formed in 2013 and brings together corn growing entities from the U.S., Argentina and Brazil.

Pam Johnson of Iowa was part of the Alliance’s first mission, a trip to China to discuss food security.

“We spoke at a summit there together on a panel in front of leaders from around the world.  I think before (it) was always governments talking to governments and industry to industry, but this was a new unique thing where farmers got together to create this pre-competitive alliance and bring our voice to the table.”

According to the MAIZALL website, its three focus areas are communicating the benefits of modern agricultural production methods and technology, addressing challenges in the biotech approval process and promoting regulatory harmony.

Johnson tells Brownfield partnering stakeholders from the world’s largest corn-producing areas has strengthened MAIZALL’s message.

“We’ve gone to the WTO together and met with the Chinese and said ‘we don’t want to file a formal complaint about you, but all three of our countries have big issues with the way grain moves in and out of China.  We’ve been with Darcy Vetter from (USDA’s) Foreign Ag Service as she’s traveled in China and the EU, and our messages mirror each other; so I think they’re stronger.”

Johnson, a past NCGA president, says MAIZALL works with foreign embassies on every trade mission to promote agriculture and the importance of biotechnology.

Brownfield spoke to Johnson at Commodity Classic in New Orleans.