Genetically modified golden rice gains support

The development of the genetically modified golden rice in the country gets a new wave of support after stakeholders from various fields backed the commercialization of the new variety of Filipinos’ main staple food.

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-Phil-Rice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) led a new set of briefings nationwide attended by stakeholders for the continued information dissemination about the project.

“Dialogues were conducted to inform the public about the status of the project, to listen to and address their concerns, and to generate support for the project’s continuation and completion,” said Roel Suralta, Golden Rice project leader.

The agencies also tackled the new measures under the new joint department circular governing research, testing, and deployment of plant biotechnology products, including golden rice.

The new circular requires transparency and public participation to allow stakeholders to have appropriate access to information, and a unique opportunity to participate in a responsible and accountable manner in a biosafety decision-making process.

The province of Albay expressed support saying the project is a good initiative and a breakthrough to address a health and nutrition problem.

The Department of Education is also hopeful that the golden rice will improve the health status of students, thus resulting to lower rates of school dropouts and a more productive population in the future.

“Scientific and farmers organizations such as the Philippine Society of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology-Central Luzon Chapter and the Asian Farmers Network in the Philippines have also expressed in writing their support for the project,” Suralta said.

“Stakeholders recognized the importance of biotechnology and believe in the potential of golden rice to alleviate the problem of vitamin A deficiency,” he added.

A new type of rice, the golden rice contains betacarotene which is a source of vitamin A.

Lack of vitamin A impairs the immune system, which increases the risk of death from certain common infections among young children and is the leading cause of blindness among the younger ones.

Phil-Rice research indicates that eating about one cup a day of golden rice could provide half of an adult’s vitamin A needs.

The golden rice variety is eyed to be developed with the same high yield, pest resistance and grain and eating qualities as non-golden rice varieties, and can be planted, harvested, threshed, stored, and milled like any other rice.