Photo Gallery The Torilla Wars
Tens of thousands of farmers and trade unionists marched through Mexico's capital last January to protest a surge in tortilla prices when the price of tortilla tripled to 15 pesos ($1.36) per kilogramm -- the highest price in a decade.
Tortilla maker Leticia Balino gathers a pile of tortillas in her shop in Mexico City. Tortillas are one of Mexico's most closely regulated commodities.
Although Mexico is widely considered the birthplace of corn, it imports millions of tons of corn from the United States every year to top up its domestic production.
Soaring US demand for ethanol -- produced from crops like corn and sugar cane -- has sent corn prices to their highest level in a decade.
Farmers in the United States are increasing production of corn, which can be used to create biofuel and has become agricultural gold for many. The United States and Brazil are the world's top biofuel produccers.
Half of Mexico lives on $5 (3.6) or less a day. Before the "Tortilla Crisis," the corn meal patties sold at around 5 pesos per kilogramm.
According to experts, in the near future, the biofuel boom will tempt more and more farmers to change from food production to the more profitable biofuel production.
A woman holds a basket of corn cobs as she marches in protest against the price rise last January. "(Mexican President Felipe) Calderon isn't just a thief, he's a murderer because he wants us to die of hunger," Elvira Acevedo told reporters at the rally.
Despite the government's effort to persuade companies to sell their products cheaper, Mexicans have repeatedly accused president Felipe Calderon of failing to protect them from foreign market forces.
