GOLDEN RICE -- Is it the golden answer to end Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) or just a golden illusion?
The battle to end VAD among children and pregnant women has long been started but the solution still has to come.
In the pursuit to potentially reduce or eliminate malnutrition resulting to diseases or worse death caused by VAD, scientists for over 20 years now have been busy in developing a Genetically Engineered (GE) Golden Rice but commercialization was put on delay as its safety to health and environment has yet to be proved scientifically and environment groups led by Greenpeace heavily opposed such GE crop.
Golden Rice, as defined by the International Rice Research Institute (Irri), is a GE rice that has beta-carotene in the grain (beta-carotene is a precursor of Vitamin A), a potential new food-based approach to improve vitamin A status, which has the greatest impact on the poorest people in the world especially those in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Philippines, along with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka, among others are categorized as “severed” Vitamin A Deficient countries.
“Our objective is mainly to develop Golden Rice as a potential new food-based approach to complement current approaches to alleviate Vitamin A deficiency,” said Violeta Villegas, Irri Senior Scientist and Golden Rice Coordinator.
Vitamin A is a vital nutrient needed for good vision, growth, development, and a healthy immune system. According to World Health Organization, more than 90 million children in Southeast Asia suffer from VAD.
Other approaches pursued to combat VAD in the Philippines are promotion of optimum infant and young child feeding practices (breast-feeding), dietary diversification, supplementation, and food fortification.
Safety of Golden Rice is among the paramount aspects being studied in all development stages.
Presently, data from recent tests on both agronomic and laboratory on Golden Rice showed that the crop is safe. However, further tests will be conducted before it is released for growing by farmers and for consumption.
“It will be released if it is proven to be safe, matches farmer and consumer expectation and can improve vitamin A status including all necessary country approvals are granted,” Villegas said.
Irri, as the lead organization pushing for Golden Rice, is also working with participating organizations to breed Golden Rice into local varieties, following the biosafety regulatory system of the partner countries.
Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia are doing research and development on this GE crop.
Status of Golden Rice
Breeders at Irri and national partners including Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Indonesian Center for Rice Research, Philippine Rice Research Institute are developing Golden Rice versions of existing, popular rice varieties.
In the Philippines, the GR2E Rc82 variety lines were transferred to PhilRice and two seasons of Confined Field Testing were done, which completed grain and straw samples produced for compositional analysis.
After which, Golden Rice is set for multi-location field trials, then it will also undergo nutrition study, market test, regulatory and safety assessment before it will be commercialized.
Why fortify rice?
Opponents like Greenpeace asserted that VAD can be addressed through combination of vitamin supplementation and home gardening, a sustainable solution to the problems of nutrition.
But Villegas said that as the poor cannot access or afford a diverse and healthy diet, there is a need to fortify rice for it comprises the bulk of their diet. Micronutrient malnutrition or “hidden hunger” is a persistent public health problem.
According to Irri, Philippines has a 47 percent of caloric intake from rice.
Opposition
Disruptions from anti-Genetically Modified (GM) activists such as site destruction, court cases, and Anti-GM resolutions in some Local Government Units (LGUs) are just some of the challenges faced by the proponents of the GE crops.
Greenpeace, has deemed the golden rice project as "environmentally irresponsible, poses risks to human health, and could compromise food, nutrition and financial security."
“The tens of millions of dollars invested in GE 'Golden' rice could have been better spent on practical and working VAD solutions, such as food supplements, food fortification and home gardening of natural foods rich in Vitamin A and other essential nutrients,” Greenpeace said in a report posted in its website.
Last June, Greenpeace was targeted by more than 100 Nobel laureates who have signed a letter urging the environmental group to stop its “unreasonable” campaign against genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Wilhelmina Pelegrina, a campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia in a report said that the organization was not blocking golden rice, as the initiative "has failed as a solution and isn't currently available for sale, even after more than 20 years of research."
"Corporations are overhyping golden rice to pave the way for global approval of other more profitable genetically engineered crops. Rather than invest in this overpriced public relations exercise, we need to address malnutrition through a more diverse diet, equitable access to food and eco-agriculture," she said.
Greenpeace also stated that GE 'Golden' rice can easily contaminate non-GE rice “through inadvertent mixing of seeds during harvest, transport and distribution.”
“Greenpeace opposes the release of GE crops, including GE 'Golden' rice, into the environment. Golden rice relies upon the body's ability to convert beta carotene to Vitamin A. But the exact metabolic pathway is poorly misunderstood and negative health effects can result from an overexposure to beta carotene,” the group said.
When asked on how they respond to groups opposing their researches, Villegas was quick to add that “decisions should be science-based, not based on fear.”
Villegas said that the journey of Golden Rice may seem long and winding but they are committed to go through the entire stringent process to ensure that the GE crop will comply to all regulatory requirements before its release and will therefore serve its noble aim – end VAD.