Golden rice: why has it been banned and what happens now?
Jun 6, 2024
15:49
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Robin McKie, Observer science editor, and Glenn Stone, research professor, discuss the ban on golden rice in the Philippines. They explore the long journey of this genetically modified rice, its potential impact on tackling vitamin A deficiency, and the ongoing controversies surrounding its commercial growth. The conversation dives into the complexities of the GMO debate and the need for more objective discussions and research.
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Quick takeaways
Golden rice faced storage issues affecting beta-carotene levels and distribution challenges for malnutrition-affected communities.
Objections from Greenpeace and local farmers led to the recent ban on the commercial growth of golden rice in the Philippines.
Deep dives
The Development of Golden Rice
Scientists introduced beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, into rice to combat vitamin A deficiency. Despite success, concerns were raised about possible impacts on other crops and private companies in agriculture. The prolonged debate led to the recent ban on the commercial growth of golden rice in the Philippines.
Challenges and Controversies Surrounding Golden Rice
Golden rice faced storage issues affecting beta-carotene levels, distribution challenges for malnutrition-affected communities, and skepticism about the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A in children with nutritional deficiencies. Greenpeace and local farmers' objections led to a court's decision to halt commercial cultivation in the Philippines.
Future Prospects of Golden Rice
While some view golden rice as a promising solution for malnutrition, questions remain about its adoption, effectiveness in regions like the Philippines, and the necessity of traditional nutrition programs. Further studies and environmental field testing are crucial for the future of golden rice adoption in countries facing vitamin A deficiency.
A court in the Philippines has banned the commercial growth of golden rice, a genetically modified rice which was created to help tackle vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. It’s just the latest twist in a long and controversial journey for this rice. Ian Sample hears from the Observer science and environment editor, Robin McKie, and from Glenn Stone, a research professor of environmental science at Sweet Briar College in Virginia who is also an anthropologist who has studied golden rice, about why it has taken so long for this potentially life-saving technology to reach the fields, if it is the silver bullet so many had hoped for, and whether this ban is really the end of the story. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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