As part of the National Day of the Corn events on Sunday, Sept. 29, from a cornfield planted in the median of one of the city’s biggest thoroughfares in center of Guadalajara, Mexico, the Colectivo Coamil Federalismo—an autonomous project focused on urban agriculture—demanded the protection of corn at the national level.
Through a cultural and political event called the “Corn Festival at the Coamil (“coamil” is a small traditionally planted parcel of corn, beans and squash; Coamil Federalismo is planted in the median of Federalismo Avenue),” the collective and attendees advocated for progress on the constitutional reform that prioritizes agroecology in corn cultivation. They also called for the resolution of the dispute between Mexico and the United States over the use of glyphosate and genetically modified corn (held within the framework of the USMCA) to be defined from a human rights perspective.
In addition, they protested the agro-industrial production model and called for the defense of the efforts of Indigenous peoples, native communities, and urban and peri-urban agriculture projects.
“We reject any attempt at harassment, intimidation, or aggression that affects these initiatives,” they declared from the median of Federalismo Avenue.
The demonstration took place on Sept. 29, Day of the Corn, as part of the campaign “Without Corn, There Is No Country.”
Celebration in the Defense
At the event, urban artist Miya Tafari performed rap music, and Juan Francisco Ochoa played boleros. There were also workshops, an open mic, and the Corn Flavors tasting table, where attendees enjoyed boiled corn, tsampas, toqueras, gorditas, corn bread, pinole, tejuino, and other corn-based foods. The day also included work in the collective’s milpa and medicinal garden.
Additionally, a flashmob took place, featuring a nearly 21-meter-long banner displaying the central message of the celebration: “Without Corn, There Is No Country,” alongside the milpa.
The event also included participants from Chiapas, Sinaloa, Mexico City, Guanajuato, as well as from Colombia, Cuba, and Peru (in addition to the metropolitan area of Guadalajara), who submitted original poems to the “Word of Corn 2024” call. Their works were collectively read by attendees. Among the shared pieces were titles such as: Echos of the Milpa; Cornflakes; The Planting Begins; Cycles of Life; Realm of the Crop; Ode to Corn; El Dorado; Teenteenpie, and The Corn.
The “Word of Corn 2024” call will remain open throughout October. Those interested in submitting unpublished poems about corn and/or the milpa to be part of the annual Coamil Federalismo poetry anthology can register via the provided link.
We also shared the reading of the collective statement on YouTube:
agroecology Corn Festival food sovereignty Genetically Modified Corn Native Corn Protection urban agriculture