Golden Rice1

““Golden” RiceGolden” Rice

By Rameshwar KumarBy Rameshwar Kumar

CPBG, TNAU, coimbatoreCPBG, TNAU, coimbatore

A collection of technologies that use A collection of technologies that use living cells and/or biological living cells and/or biological molecules to solve problems and molecules to solve problems and make useful products.make useful products.

What is “Golden” Rice What is “Golden” Rice (GR)?(GR)?

Rice that has been Rice that has been genetically genetically modified to contain modified to contain beta carotene beta carotene which can produce which can produce Vitamin A once it Vitamin A once it has been has been consumed.consumed.

www.fbae.org/Resource_Centre/Articles/golden_rice.htmwww.fbae.org/Resource_Centre/Articles/golden_rice.htm

How was it discovered?How was it discovered? What? Produced by What? Produced by

combining genetic material combining genetic material from daffodils, peas, and from daffodils, peas, and Japonica rice.Japonica rice.

Who? Professor Ingo Who? Professor Ingo Potrykus, Dr. Peter Beyer & Potrykus, Dr. Peter Beyer & other European scientistsother European scientists

When? August 1999When? August 1999

Where? Swiss Federal Where? Swiss Federal Institute of Technology & Institute of Technology & University of Freiburg in University of Freiburg in Germany Germany

What was the purpose for Golden Rice?What was the purpose for Golden Rice?

Developed to provide Developed to provide a new, alternative a new, alternative intervention to combat intervention to combat Vitamin A Deficiency.Vitamin A Deficiency.

Rice was chosen to Rice was chosen to contain betacarotene contain betacarotene because it is the main because it is the main staple in third world staple in third world countries.countries.

Includes 118 countries Includes 118 countries in Africa and South-in Africa and South-East Asia:East Asia:

Vitamin A Vitamin A

Sources from:Sources from: Fish oilFish oil LiverLiver MilkMilk EggsEggs ButterButter Orange/Yellow fruits Orange/Yellow fruits

and vegetablesand vegetables

Required for:Required for: GrowthGrowth Healthy skin & cellsHealthy skin & cells Good night visionGood night vision

Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)

Severe ConsequencesSevere Consequences:: BlindnessBlindness Weakened immune Weakened immune

systemsystem (In pregnant (In pregnant

women) Night women) Night blindnessblindness

Can increase the Can increase the risk of maternal risk of maternal mortalitymortality

Facts:Facts: Between Between 100100 and and

140 million140 million children children are vitamin A are vitamin A deficientdeficient

About About 250,000 to 250,000 to 500,000500,000 become become blind, (1/2 dying blind, (1/2 dying within 12 months of within 12 months of losing sight)losing sight)

600,000600,000 women die women die from childbirth-from childbirth-related causes each related causes each yearyear

www.dr-rath-research.org/codexxx/health21st_ch09.html

Claims About GRClaims About GR

It’s not natural!It’s not natural! It can have hazardous effects!It can have hazardous effects! It can harm the environment!It can harm the environment!We don’t need GMOs because the We don’t need GMOs because the

world currently produces enough for world currently produces enough for the current population!the current population!

Many things are not natural. Good things result from Many things are not natural. Good things result from experimentation and improvement of nature:experimentation and improvement of nature:

AntibioticsAntibiotics AnaestheticsAnaesthetics Warm housesWarm houses And nowAnd now, more nutritious foods! , more nutritious foods!

The testing of GM foods is exemplary in its detail and takes at The testing of GM foods is exemplary in its detail and takes at least four years of testing for it to be introduced to consumers. least four years of testing for it to be introduced to consumers.

GMOs have actually reduced the use of herbicides and GMOs have actually reduced the use of herbicides and pesticides.pesticides.

Now, is the time to experiment and not when a natural disaster Now, is the time to experiment and not when a natural disaster (Ex. overpopulation) plagues us and it is too late.(Ex. overpopulation) plagues us and it is too late.

The REAL Issues of GRThe REAL Issues of GR

LimitationsLimitations

BenefitsBenefits

Limitations Limitations Vitamin A in “Golden” rice is Vitamin A in “Golden” rice is

not sufficient for the daily not sufficient for the daily recommended amount.recommended amount.

Even if it was enough, people Even if it was enough, people require zinc, proteins, fats and require zinc, proteins, fats and other elements (which they also other elements (which they also often lack) in their diets to often lack) in their diets to convert the beta-carotene to convert the beta-carotene to vitamin Avitamin A

Brown rice is available, but not Brown rice is available, but not consumed as much because consumed as much because white rice is associated with white rice is associated with culture and tradition; golden culture and tradition; golden rice may notrice may not be acceptedbe accepted. .

In addition…In addition…

The production of “Golden” rice The production of “Golden” rice can present a second “Green can present a second “Green Revolution” where certain Revolution” where certain countries will become sole countries will become sole producers of a major money-producers of a major money-making crop. making crop.

People will continue to suffer People will continue to suffer from an unhealthy diet. The from an unhealthy diet. The production of only certain crops production of only certain crops will limit their availability to will limit their availability to other foods.other foods.

www.dr-rath-research.org/codexxx/health21st_ch09.html

BenefitsBenefits

May solve VAD in third May solve VAD in third world countries.world countries.

Early in Developmental Early in Developmental stages; can improve amount stages; can improve amount of Vitamin A.of Vitamin A.

May influence the May influence the acceptance of GMOs if acceptance of GMOs if successful.successful.

www.cbmuk.org.uk/vitamina.html

Golden Rice may not be Golden Rice may not be the complete solution to the complete solution to VAD, but it is a start and a VAD, but it is a start and a contribution to the problem contribution to the problem that should not be that should not be disregarded because of disregarded because of fear.fear.

Biotechnology is currently Biotechnology is currently poorly understood by the poorly understood by the public.public.

Public’s judgments are too Public’s judgments are too often influenced by often influenced by inaccurate & misleading inaccurate & misleading information.information.

The public needs to be The public needs to be properly informed of properly informed of both the pros and cons both the pros and cons of golden riceof golden rice

Unbiased Unbiased infomational sourcesinfomational sources

Education of the next Education of the next generation will result in generation will result in greater future greater future understanding of the understanding of the technology.technology.

Only then will GR and Only then will GR and other GMOs can become other GMOs can become more acceptable and more acceptable and allow for more allow for more improvement.improvement.

ReferencesReferences

www.grain.org/publications/delusion-en-p.htmwww.grain.org/publications/delusion-en-p.htm www.commondreams.org/views/080200-101.htmwww.commondreams.org/views/080200-101.htm www.blauen-institut.ch/Tx/tP/tpT/GoldenGenes.pdfwww.blauen-institut.ch/Tx/tP/tpT/GoldenGenes.pdf www.fbae.org/Resource_Centre/Articles/golden_rice.htmwww.fbae.org/Resource_Centre/Articles/golden_rice.htm Pence, Gregory E. Pence, Gregory E. The Ethics of Food.The Ethics of Food. New York: Rowman New York: Rowman

& Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2002.& Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2002.