PhilRice studying court decision on GM crops

tHE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is reviewing the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) revoking the biosafety permit for the propagation of genetically modified (GM) crops, including Golden Rice.

“We acknowledge the Court of Appeals’ decision regarding the Writ of Kalikasan proceedings against Golden Rice, and we are reviewing the implications of this to prepare our response,” PhilRice Executive Director John de Leon said in a statement.

On April 19, PhilRice, an agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA), received the decision of the CA upholding the Writ of Kalikasan against the Golden Rice and Bt eggplant.

“The decision means DA-PhilRice must stop the commercial propagation and/or the conduct of activities relating to Golden Rice under the issued biosafety permit,” PhilRice said.

Golden Rice, also known as Malusog Rice, was developed to address vitamin A deficiency in the country that affects more than 15 percent of Filipino children under 6 years old. In 2021, the Bureau of Plant and Industry, also under the DA, issued a permit for Golden Rice’s commercial propagation in the country.

PhilRice said that it also has the potential to double the vitamin A intake of children in the lowest 40 percent of the income distribution in the country.

For its part, Greenpeace Philippines said the CA ruling will benefit the Filipino farmers the most.

“Significantly, the decision firmly upholds the precautionary principle and puts the burden of proof for safety on the respondents. Greenpeace has constantly noted that GM crops have been approved in the Philippines despite the lack of robust data on safety assessments submitted by proponents,” Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina said.

She also said that GM crops also hinder the necessary progress on climate resilient ecological agriculture and were not proven safe.

“We reiterate our stance: the involved companies and agencies have yet to show concrete evidence that these crops would be in the best interest of Filipinos, our environment and our agricultural sector,” Pelegrina said.

Moreover, Greenpeace urged the DA to provide the right resources for farmers to ensure resilience amid impacts of climate change.