Zimbabwe has lifted a ban on imports of genetically modified maize for the first time in 12 years in an effort to offset the effects of severe drought and economic difficulties, which have led to limited supplies of maize meal, used to make the staple food known locally as sadza. The country’s maize harvest is expected to decline by over 50% this season following the worst drought in 4 decades, with a likely supply deficit of between 800,000 tons and 1 million tons. In response, weekly imports of white corn reportedly reached its highest level in almost 7 years in the week ending January 24th 2020.