LIMA, PERU — Peru’s growing poultry industry is increasing the country’s demand for feed and pushing its corn imports, according to a recent Global Agricultural Information Network report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

With the increase in demand of poultry and in turn for feed, Peru’s marketing year 2020-21 corn consumption is forecast to jump 2% to 5.8 million tonnes.

To fill the demand, Peru’s imports are anticipated to increase to 3.9 million tonnes in the 2020-21 marketing year.

The USDA said corn production for the 2020-21 marketing year is forecast to increase 6%, to 1.9 million tonnes, on good weather conditions and stepped-up demand from the animal feed industry.

In 2011, Peru mandated a 10-year moratorium on planting genetically engineered crops, including corn. The report said the mandate prevents producers from cultivating genetically engineered varieties that could overcome production challenges.