Pakistan must reject commercialisation of GMO maize: PHHSA

LAHORE: Pakistan’s booming maize fields vital for feeding millions and playing a crucial role in supporting the livestock, dairy, and poultry sectors, as well as starch processors and export markets are now under threat.

With pressure from certain groups to allow GMO maize cultivation, the nation faces a pivotal decision that will significantly impact consumers, farmers, food security, and the domestic seed industry. The argument for caution is strong and rooted in the realities of national agricultural landscape, argues stakeholder here on Sunday.

The foremost reason against GMO maize commercialisation is the challenge of coexistence. Maize is wind-pollinated, and its pollen can travel hundreds of meters. The Federal Seed Certification Department mandates 400 meters isolation even between two non-GMO varieties.

Experts from the Punjab Seed Council have concurred that 500 meters isolation distance would be necessary for GMO and non-GMO separation.

However, the Agriculture Census 2024 indicates that the average farm size is merely 5.1 acres, with 90 percent of farmers operating within this average. In such a fragmented farming environment, physical separation is impractical. Once GMO maize is introduced, its pollen will indiscriminately contaminate adjacent non-GMO fields. Given that maize has a cross-pollination rate exceeding 95 percent, the damage would be rapid, severe, and irreversible.

According to the Pakistan Hi-tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA), the threat to the local seed sector is equally alarming. Today, local companies provide 45 percent of Autumn Maize seed, 15 percent of Spring Maize seed, and 80 percent of White Maize seed grown in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This share is growing due to the hard work of Pakistani professionals and researchers. Locally developed hybrids are specifically bred for Pakistan’s heat, pests, and soil, and some are now being exported. This success took decades to build. If GMO maize is allowed, cross-contamination will destroy the non-GMO seed base, wipe out research and development, and eliminate thousands of jobs in breeding, production, and sales.

The PHHSA emphasizes that the industry is not against innovation but supports technology that aligns with ground realities. Hybrid seed technology has already increased maize production massively and has potential to do more. GMO maize will reverse these gains quickly because cross-contamination is unavoidable. Major buyers such as Rafhan and other processors have already stated they will not purchase GMO maize. They require non-GMO corn for producing starch, corn oil, flour, and feed for premium markets in the EU, Middle East, and Asia. If Pakistan cannot guarantee non-GMO supply, these factories will face closure or forced imports, resulting in substantial economic losses, foreign exchange burden, and job losses at home.

Farmers will also suffer. GMO technology forces them to buy costly imported seed every season along with proprietary herbicides. Defence institutions have flagged dependence on imported seed technology as a national security risk. In an era of supply chain disruptions, handing control of a staple crop to foreign firms is dangerous.

The PHHSA stresses that only around two dozen countries commercially grow GMO maize, concentrated largely in the North and South America. In sheer contrast, the EU, India, Australia, Turkey, China, and most other nations still prohibit its commercial cultivation. So, GMO maize is far from a worldwide standard. Given the dynamics of local maize sector, Pakistan’s strength lies in its non-GMO value chains and growing local seed sector. Non-GMO hybrids are already competitive and have vast room to grow scientifically. Pest and weed control is working without creating resistance, and there is no need to adopt a technology that threatens existing systems. Pakistan must not experiment with maize commercialization, especially given the past bad experience of Bt cotton, which resulted in elimination of non-Bt cotton in short period of time due to similar issues and drastic reduction in overall output. Now, we are trying to revive cotton crop but to no avail.

The way forward, according to the PHHSA, is for Pakistan to invest in its own breeders’ research and development, strengthen quality control, and protect farmer choice. We must not forget that once genetic contamination occurs, it cannot be reversed. Seed sovereignty is food security. The government must stop the GMO maize invasion and protect what already works: Pakistani seed, farmers, and national food security.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026