No Need for Golden Rice
Compelling arguments were raised against Golden Rice during a roundtable discussion on its implications. The RTD was held at Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman last June 2 and was sponsored by members of RESIST (Resistance and Solidarity against Agrochem TNCs).
Golden Rice is a genetically-engineered rice variety which has the capability to produce beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A. It was developed by Dr. Ingo Potrykus of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and Dr. Peter Beyer from the University of Freiburg, Germany. Proponents of Golden Rice claim that it will solve the vitamin-A deficiency (VAD) prevalent among children in developing countries. VAD symptoms include poor growth, lowered resistance to infection, night blindness and rough, scaly skin.
According to Dr. Beng Rivera of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), there are other beta-carotene rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables (malunggay, kangkong and kamote tops), yellow fruits and vegetables like squash and carrots that can provide the vitamin A needed by a person.
Also, vitamin A is fat-soluble. Meaning, a person’s diet must contain fats so that the body will absorb the vitamin. This counters the argument that Golden Rice will be able to answer the VAD experienced by poor children since an impoverished child who eats only Golden Rice and has no source of fat will still be deficient in vitamin A.
At present, IRRI and PhilRice are studying its efficacy and eventual commercialization of Golden Rice by 2013. Philrice is conducting confined multi-location field trials for several seasons. Before releasing it in the market, it must first comply with the Philippine Biosafety Measures.
Dr. Chito Medina of MASIPAG believes that “Golden Rice is a Trojan horse to create acceptability of genetically modified crops and food.” Through it, biotech corporations will appear philanthropic and humanitarian, as opposed to being greedy and profit-driven. If the commercialization of Golden Rice pushes through and it is widely accepted by the people because of its so-called “added benefit”, other GMOs can more easily penetrate the market.
It is also highly convenient but completely ignorant of the government to address only one small part of the whole malnutrition issue. If the Philippine government is serious in addressing hunger and malnutrition especially among children, then it must seek ways to ensure food security for the whole country. This means that farmers control the land, seeds, knowledge and technology.
Thus, RESIST is actively promoting its initiatives against genetically modified organisms. One of its advocacies is genuine agrarian reform which gives way for peasants to own the land they have been tilling. Sustainable agriculture is also a thrust of RESIST’s member organizations. Seeds of traditional rice varieties are utilized instead of HYV since the former are more nutritious and require less chemical inputs. Rice breeding and seed banking are also being practiced. The use of appropriate technology is also being taught to the farmers, such as rice dryer and corn roller crusher.
Filipinos do not need a genetically-engineered rice variety to provide vitamin A. A famous Filipino folk song “Bahay Kubo” profoundly enumerates the variety of natural foods which can provide it.