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

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.