A Corn Crisis Is Brewing in Mexico

Few things are more revered in Mexico than corn.

This staple crop is both a cultural symbol and a cornerstone of national identity, with roots stretching back to pre-Hispanic times. Indigenous groups regard it as a gift from the god Quetzalcóatl; whatever its provenance, the corn tortilla remains a fixture of everyday Mexican life. “Sin maíz no hay país” — “without corn, there is no country” — is a saying that former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s nationalist movement has amplified since he took office in 2018.