It is no longer a
secret that crops can be genetically modified in order to contain additional
nutrient which are lacking from the diets of many people in developing
countries. One example is Golden Rice which contains beta-carotene. This
organic compound is converted into vitamin A when ingested. Golden Rice could improve the lives of
thousands of children living in poor countries who suffer from blindness due to
the lack of vitamin A.
The first type of
Golden Rice was introduced about 25 years ago by Ingo Potrykus at the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology and by Peter Beyer at the University of Freiburg.
The process of developing this new type of rice consisted of transferring genes
of maize into rice to obtain the Golden Rice. It was given this name as it produces the same
pigments that yellow vegetables do.
In 2005, a second type of Golden Rice was developed which produces up to 23
times more beta-carotene than the original Golden Rice.
It was trialled in the
Philippines in August 2013 but despite the fact that Golden Rice was developed
as a humanitarian tool, it has been met with strong opposition from environmental
and anti-globalization activists. Greenpeace, for example, believes that Golden Rice is not the answer to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and malnutrition. According
to this NGO, money should not be spent on this project but rather used for
programs that they are already working on, such as the promotion of
home-gardening and pills.
However, field studies
in the Philippines have been conducted despite the vandalism and all the
protests. In this country, vitamin A deficiency affects 1.7 million children
between 6 months and 5 years. In order to improve the situation, Golden Rice
will be tested also in future according to the best and most rigorous standards.
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