Why has a Philippine court put a stop to its commercial rice production?

A court in the Philippines recently revoked biosafety permits for commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice and Bt eggplant. The decision is circulating in the international media, as proponents of GM crops have claimed the decision may have disastrous consequences for children with vitamin A deficiency, ignoring the safety violations noted by the court. Golden rice, so named because of its rich yellow colour, was genetically engineered to contain higher levels of the micronutrients iron and zinc in the grains while also producing beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. In 2021, the Philippines became the first country to approve commercial production of the rice variety. However, non-profit organisations such as Greenpeace and local farmers protested the decision. Read more: Why Bangladesh sees golden rice as a threat On April 17, 2024, Court of Appeals of the Philippines (CA) issued a cease and desist order and ordered a stop to the commercial propagation, ...