Quick answer: Mozambique does not grow genetically modified (GM) crops commercially. It has had biosafety rules since 2007, updated in 2014, and since 2017 it has run field trials of GM maize developed under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project, now called TELA maize. The trials showed resistance to stem borers and promising results against fall armyworm, but TELA maize has not been released to Mozambican farmers (Genetic Literacy Project). Today, farmers rely on conventionally bred drought-tolerant varieties and on switching part of their land to hardier crops.
Why seed matters so much in Mozambique
Maize is Mozambique's main staple, and nearly all of it is grown without irrigation by smallholder farmers. A dry spell at flowering time, or an outbreak of pests such as fall armyworm, can wipe out a family's main food crop. Better seed is the cheapest way to reduce that risk: it costs a farmer little extra, and it works without electricity, machinery or training in new equipment.
Scientists improve seed in two ways (USDA, CropLife):
- Conventional breeding: crossing plants and selecting the ones that survive drought, heat or disease best. This is how most drought-tolerant varieties in Africa were made.
- Genetic modification: adding a specific gene, for example one that makes the plant resistant to certain insects, or one that helps it use water more efficiently.
What TELA maize is
TELA maize combines conventional breeding for drought tolerance with GM traits for insect resistance. It grew out of the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project, a partnership of African research institutes and international partners, and was renamed TELA as the work moved toward release.
In Mozambique, field trials since 2017 reportedly showed:
- resistance to stem borers, insects that tunnel into maize stalks;
- promising resistance to fall armyworm, a caterpillar that arrived in Africa in 2016 and spread quickly through maize fields.
TELA maize has not yet been commercialized in Mozambique (Genetic Literacy Project).
How Mozambique regulates GM crops
- Biosafety rules since 2007, revised by a government decree in November 2014.
- A National Biosafety Authority oversees GM research and trials.
- GM imports are allowed for direct use as food, animal feed or processing, with the Authority's approval.
- No commercial planting of GM crops has been approved so far.
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What neighbors are doing
South Africa, Mozambique's largest neighbor and trading partner, has grown GM maize for more than two decades. In 2024 Nigeria approved TELA maize for commercial planting (Gazette Nigeria). Decisions across the region will influence when, and whether, Mozambique moves from trials to release.
What farmers use today
Until GM varieties are approved, Mozambique's climate-smart seed strategy rests on:
- Conventionally bred drought-tolerant maize from national and international breeding programs.
- Hardier crops alongside maize: sorghum, millet, cassava, sweet potato, pigeon pea and cowpea handle dry spells better than maize, so planting some of each spreads the risk.
- Certified seed: buying tested seed from agro-dealers rather than replanting saved grain, which loses vigor over the years.
- Better storage: keeping seed dry and sealed so it germinates well next season.
The debate
Supporters argue that insect-resistant, drought-tolerant maize could protect harvests and reduce pesticide spraying, and that Africa cannot afford to ignore tools that neighbors already use.
Skeptics raise concerns about the cost of seed, dependence on seed companies, whether farmers can save and replant seed, and the need for strong regulators to monitor safety and pest resistance over time.
Both sides agree on one thing: seed alone is not enough. Farmers also need good soil, timely planting, access to markets and protection against total loss in disaster years.
This article is part of our guide to climate-smart agriculture in Mozambique.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mozambique allow GMO crops?
Mozambique allows GM research and field trials under its biosafety rules, and allows approved GM imports for food and feed. No GM crop has been approved for commercial planting.
What is TELA maize?
Maize bred for drought tolerance that also carries GM traits for resistance to insects such as stem borers and fall armyworm. It came out of the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project.
Which African countries grow GM maize?
South Africa has grown GM maize commercially for more than twenty years, and Nigeria approved TELA maize for commercial planting in 2024.
Sources
- Genetic Literacy Project: Mozambique sees GMO crops as a way to reduce poverty
- Gazette Nigeria: Nigeria approves TELA maize
- USDA: biotechnology and climate change
- CropLife: access to technologies
About Maputo Bridge Capital
Maputo Bridge Capital connects Mozambican farmers with supporters in the United States, and publishes practical guides on farming, land and business in Mozambique. Meet the farmers.