Philippine Department of Agriculture, gives nod to nutritious GMO 'golden rice'

Published 2021년 7월 26일

Tridge summary

The Philippines has become the first country to approve the commercial cultivation of Golden Rice, a genetically engineered variety developed in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-PhilRice and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children. Golden Rice contains enhanced levels of beta-carotene, providing up to 40% of the daily vitamin A requirement for young children. This breakthrough makes the Philippines a global leader in using agricultural research to address malnutrition. The country has received food safety approvals from several countries and is currently under review in Bangladesh. The Department of Agriculture-PhilRice is working with local partners to bring Golden Rice to high-prevalence communities and increasing seed availability. This innovation is a significant step towards addressing VAD, affecting one in five children in the Philippines and 190 million children globally, through a staple food source rather than relying on supplements or biofortified products.

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Original content

Golden rice was developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to contain additional levels of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. A cup of golden rice can give as much as 40 percent of vitamin A which is very essential for children aged six months to five years. Around one in five children from the poorest communities in the Philippines suffer from vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which affects an estimated 190 million children worldwide. The condition is the most common cause of childhood blindness, as well as a contributing factor to a weakened immune system. “This milestone puts the Philippines at the global forefront in leveraging agriculture research to address the issues of malnutrition and related health impacts in a safe and sustainable way,” said Dr. Jean Balié, Director General of IRRI, a CGIAR research centre. “The regulatory success of Golden ...

Source: Thepigsite