Description: “Sin maíz no hay país” (“Without corn there is no country”) is a Mexican slogan and social movement that defends food sovereignty, culture, and peasant agriculture. It promotes the cultivation and consumption of native corn varieties and the prohibition of genetically modified organisms, recognising corn as a fundamental pillar of national identity and cuisine in Mexico since its ancestral origins. this campaign was born in June 2007, driven by over 300 organizations representing peasants, indigenous peoples, urban dwellers, consumers, environmentalists, women’s groups, human rights defenders, representatives of international cooperation, intellectuals, artists, scientists, students, and ordinary citizens from almost twenty states in Mexico. Since then, the objective has been to fight for food sovereignty by strengthening peasant production through favourable public policies and an inclusive, just, sustainable and solidarity-based project for the countryside and the country as a whole.
Teaching ideas: Corn is central to Mexico’s identity and economy, yet its production and distribution have been greatly impacted by trade policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Students can analyse how the elimination of tariffs on corn and beans has led to changes in rural and urban life and promoted the migration of farmers. One teaching activity could be a debate about the effects of free trade in rural Mexico, in which students take on different roles (farmers, consumers, businesspeople and activists). This activity is particularly relevant in light of the discussion surrounding the new tariffs for 2025. Passive voice exercises such as writing a report can be used to reinforce Spanish grammar.