In 1999, researchers developed a new variety of genetically modified (GM) rice boasting the potential to save "a million kids a year" in developing countries from life-threatening vitamin A deficiency. Nearly a decade later, however, the new variety--nicknamed "golden rice" for the yellow hue imparted by vitamin A compounds--has hardly moved beyond the lab. Hampered by the controversy and strict regulations surrounding GM technology, golden rice is a testament to the obstacles facing GM crops developed for humanitarian purposes.
A More Nutritious Rice
Foods that are rich in vitamin A, including meat, butter, milk and vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes, are often unaffordable for the world's poorest families. At least a quarter-billion children worldwide, but mostly in the developing world, have poor diets lacking in vitamin A. According to the World Health Organization, between 250,000 and 500,000 children go blind every year as a result, with half of those dying within 12 months.
Golden rice cannot be created using classical plant breeding techniques because vitamin A compounds are only found naturally in the green parts of rice, not in the seed. In order to create a rice seed containing vitamin A compounds, scientists had to use genetic modification, splicing two daffodil genes and a bacterial gene into the rice genome.
"Golden Rice" Meets Strong Resistance
Many consumers and some environmental organizations--most notably Greenpeace--remain concerned about the environmental and health consequences of GM crops. After golden rice was announced in 2000, Greenpeace launched a loud public campaign to denounce the new technology, claiming that it was a ploy to open the door to other GM crops, that it was ineffective in combating vitamin A deficiency, and that it did not tackle the underlying problem of poverty, among other things.
In addition to this negative publicity, golden rice had to battle the strict rules and regulations governing GM crops, which slowed the development process and made it difficult to get approval for field trials. Now nine years after its invention, golden rice is finally getting its first field trial in Asia. It remains uncertain when or if it will ever be planted in farmers' fields or consumed by the undernourished children for whom it was intended.
GM Crops with Commercial Purposes Find Success
On the other hand, GM crops with commercial rather than humanitarian purposes have fared much better. This is because large biotech companies can afford to navigate new crop varieties through the burdensome regulatory climate surrounding GM agriculture. In 2007, farmers planted more than 100 million hectares of genetically modified crops--mainly insect resistant or herbicide tolerant soy, maize, cotton and canola.
GM Crop Area by Country, 2006
Source: EarthTrends, 2007 using data from ISAAA, 2006
Top photo by Michael Foley via Flickr
RELATED LINKS:
"Tough Lessons from Golden Rice" in Science magazine (25 April 2008, volume 320).
Science magazine interactive information guide to GM crops
News articles and an interactive map from Nature
EarthTrends
Agriculture and Food searchable database
Inexhaustible Appetities: Testing the Limits of Agroecosystems
News: Genetically Modified Crops May Boost African Agriculture
News: Genetically Modified Crops Threatened as Herbicide Resistant Weeds Evolve
