what exactly is "semilla" in tortillas

Question

tortillas hechas con semilla envenenada

totillas made with poisonous "grains"? "seeds"? I want to say "flour" but it's not that, right?

Thanks

Answer 1

It's seed corn treated with pesticides. It's supposed to prevent pests from eating the seeds before the corn plant can grow. Apparently it's killed thousands of ducks and geese, as well as many poor people who made tortillas out the the treated seed corn.

Edit: Semilla is seed corn in this case. Envenenada means poisoned.

Answer 2

Thanks, KevinB. This does ring a bell. Very sad. (What are we doing to our earth and ourselves?!)