GOLDEN RICE

What is Golden Rice?

Golden Rice is rice that has been genetically enginee
red to produce and accumulate β-carotene in the endosperm (the edible part of the grain). This
gives the grains a golden colour, as opposed to regular white rice, which is practically devoid of
carotenoids. When the rice is consumed, the β-carotene is either stored in the fatty tissues of the
body or converted into vitamin A. (“Golden Rice Q&A,” n.d.)

Golden Rice is developed through genetic engineering. While ordinary rice does produce beta
carotene, it is not found in the grain. Thus, scientists used genetic engineering to add the
compound to the grain - a minor tweak that improved the grain’s nutritive value. The beta
carotene in Golden Rice, which was made possible by the addition of two new enzymes, is
identical to the beta-carotene found in green leafy and yellow-colored vegetables, orange-colored
fruit, and even in many vitamin supplements and food ingredients. ("Golden rice FAQs," 2020)

How is Golden Rice better than regular rice?

While Golden Rice is expected to cost and taste the same as regular rice, its beta carotene content
makes it a valuable asset in the battle against VAD. Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for
growth, development, and keeping the body’s visual and immune systems healthy. VAD
weakens the body’s resistance to diseases and infections, causes blindness, and may even result
in death if left untreated. ("Golden rice FAQs," 2020)
The grain samples were analyzed for key nutritional components such as fiber, sugars, fatty
acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, proximates, and anti-nutrients. The results showed that
the only biologically significant difference between Golden Rice and the conventional rice was
the amount of beta carotene (vitamin A precursor) and other provitamin A carotenoids in the
grain. The rest of the compositional parameters were found to be within the range of natural
variability of conventional rice varieties with a history of safe consumption. The average
concentration of provitamin A concentrations in milled Golden Rice can contribute up to 89-
113% and 57-99% of the vitamin A requirement for pre-school children in Bangladesh and the
Philippines, respectively. ("Golden rice has same nutrients as traditional rice except for the
increased provitamin a content," n.d.)

Is Vitamin A deficiency is a big of a problem?

VAD is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children, and increases the risk of disease
and death from severe infections. Each year, up to 500,000 children go blind as a result of VAD.
Half of them die within 12 months of losing their sight. ("Golden rice FAQs," 2020)

In the Philippines, VAD incidence continues to be asignificant public health issue affecting
almost 17%, or 2 million children under the age of 5. This is based on the 2018 Expanded
National Nutrition Survey of the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition
Research Institute. ("Golden rice FAQs," 2020)

Will Golden Rice solve the Vitamin A Deficiency Syndrome?

Golden Rice alone is not expected to solve VAD, but its use could significantly reduce the
incidence of VAD syndrome. Rice provides as much 80 percent or more of the daily caloric
intake of 3 billion people, or half the world's population! Many people eat little else than rice.
But other challenges, such as poverty, lack of infrastructure and lack of education remain, and
should be dealt with by governments and policymakers concurrently. Golden Rice is not a
replacement for existing efforts to tackle the problem, but could substantially complement them
in the future and help make these sustainable, especially in remote rural areas. (“Golden Rice
Q&A,” n.d.)

What guarantees the safety of Golden Rice?

The seeds have been donated under the licensed terms of the technology and it is for national
regulatory authorities to determine the safety requirements. Syngenta, whose scientists were
involved in the development of the latest Golden Rice version, believes that the seeds are entirely
safe. Carotenoids are not dangerous by any definition: they are widely available in the
environment and in the human diet (especially in green vegetables). There is no reasonable
argument that would support any public health, human toxicological or any other adverse affect
in respect of carotenoids. Indeed, carotenoids are more generally associated with imparting
important health benefits. (“Golden Rice Q&A,” n.d.)

Last December, the Department of Agriculture’s (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry in San Pedro
City, Laguna has approved the biosafety permit of “Golden Rice”. Putting the genetically
engineered rice variety a step closer to commercial production in the Philippines. ("Golden rice
gets safety approval in PH," 2020)

Despite FDA’s letter, the biosafety of Golden Rice GR2E is contested. Testbiotech and other
researchers have pointed out that key human safety and efficacy studies are lacking, especially
for target populations. Specific health concerns include unintended nutritional effects of
carotenoid biosynthesis or its degradation products and because certain components of the
carotenoid pathway can be toxic. (“GMO golden rice offers no nutritional benefits says FDA,"
2019)

Will Golden Rice be expensive?

The cost of Golden Rice is expected to be similar or comparable to other rice varieties, because it
is simply bred into rice varieties that farmers already plant, meaning it will not affect production
cost. Furthermore, the inventors of the Golden Rice technology donated it for use in developing
countries; there are no limitations (except export sale) on the use of Golden Rice harvest, which
can be locally sold, or replanted by growers. As an inbred variety, farmers can save the Golden
Rice seeds and use them again for the following planting season. As for vitamin A-deficient
communities, a sustainable delivery program will be put into place for distributing Golden Rice
after it gets all the necessary approvals. ("Golden rice FAQs," 2020)

Who developed Golden Rice?

Ingo Potrykus

Reference:

Courtesy www.openwebdesign.org / Modified: Jorge Mayer. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions

(1). The Golden Rice Project. https://www.goldenrice.org/Content3-Why/why3_FAQ.php#top

GMO golden rice offers no nutritional benefits says FDA. (2019, December 10). Independent
Science News | Food, Health and Agriculture Bioscience News.
https://www.independentsciencenews.org/news/gmo-golden-rice-offers-no-nutritional-benefits-
says-fda/
Golden rice FAQs. (2020, May 21). International Rice Research Institute.
https://www.irri.org/golden-rice-faqs

Golden rice gets safety approval in PH. (2020, April 17). MNLToday.ph.
https://mnltoday.ph/2020/04/16/golden-rice-gets-safety-approval-in-ph/

Golden rice has same nutrients as traditional rice except for the increased provitamin a content.
(n.d.). Crop Biotech Update. https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?
ID=17615