Golden Rice
A lack of vitamin A is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in developing countries. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can negatively affect growth and development, cause blindness, interfere with the growth of epithelial cells, and suppress the immune system. Vitamin A can be synthesized from the β-carotene found in green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits or vegetables, and it can be obtained from certain animal products (liver, egg yolk, etc).
Rice is a staple food in many developing regions of the world. Unfortunately, it contains no β-carotene in its milled grain, and is therefore not a source of vitamin A. Rice can be genetically engineered to boost its nutritional content. It is possible to transfer the genes for β-carotene from a plant that produces it into rice DNA. Th e resulting rice, dubbed “Golden Rice” (GR) because of its yellowish tinge, can provide a key nutrient in the diet of those who eat it. In 1999 when Golden Rice was first created, it was hailed as the solution to world malnutrition, at the vanguard of a food revolution. Years later, it is still only a promise. Why have developing nations been slow to adopt this technology? Is it a worthwhile endeavor? We will hold an intimate debate on the merits of Golden Rice to tease out the issues surrounding its use
Instructions
A lack of vitamin A is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in developing countries. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can negatively affect growth and development, cause blindness, interfere with the growth of epithelial cells, and suppress the immune system. Vitamin A can be synthesized from the β-carotene found in green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits or vegetables, and it can be obtained from certain animal products (liver, egg yolk, etc).
Rice is a staple food in many developing regions of the world. Unfortunately, it contains no β-carotene in its milled grain, and is therefore not a source of vitamin A. Rice can be genetically engineered to boost its nutritional content. It is possible to transfer the genes for β-carotene from a plant that produces it into rice DNA. Th e resulting rice, dubbed “Golden Rice” (GR) because of its yellowish tinge, can provide a key nutrient in the diet of those who eat it. In 1999 when Golden Rice was first created, it was hailed as the solution to world malnutrition, at the vanguard of a food revolution. Years later, it is still only a promise. Why have developing nations been slow to adopt this technology? Is it a worthwhile endeavor? We will hold an intimate debate on the merits of Golden Rice to tease out the issues surrounding its use
- The gut does not absorb β-carotene effi ciently. According to dietary reference guides, only one molecule of β-carotene is absorbed for every 12 consumed. If this is true in Golden Rice, it means that a woman would need to consume 5.25kg of uncooked Golden Rice (GR1) every day to meet daily vitamin A requirements.
- Golden Rice 2 (GR2) produces 23× more β-carotene than GR1 and contains suffi cient quantities of β- carotene to meet the nutritional requirements for a person. However, no study has yet investigated how this chemical will fare through the steps of rice preparation (milling, storing, cooking, etc.). β-carotene may be degraded by these steps.
- Dietary fats and zinc are needed for the absorption of β-carotene and synthesis of vitamin A. Since these nutrients are limited in rice-eating countries, the absorption of β-carotene from Golden Rice will probably be less than optimal
- Cultivated rice could outcross with its wild and weedy relatives and thus the Golden Rice could possibly lead to genetic contamination of wild rice; this is not reversible and brings with it economic and environmental problems.
- Cultivation of Golden Rice in many fi elds across the world will reduce the genetic diversity of rice. Genetic diversity is our insurance against environmental stressors such as parasites and temperature variations. If these stressors occur and wipe out a specifi c strain of rice, other strains might prove resistant. However, if all the rice in the world is the same, all rice could be wiped out by the stressor.
- Transferring genes between species is undesirable and can lead to allergic reactions. There is a report of people being allergic to GM soybean into which Brazilian nut DNA had been incorporated. Similarly, the gene for a protein capable of killing a common pest of the bean was inserted into pea DNA. Th e chemical structure of this protein was subtly altered in the new organism and found to cause allergic reactions in mice. Since genes from several organisms were inserted into Golden Rice, people with pre-existing allergies to these organisms may also be allergic to Golden Rice (and would eat Golden Rice without knowing the dangers).
- GMO opponents see Golden Rice as a public relations or marketing ploy to ease public concerns about GMOs, secure positive media coverage, and render this technology more acceptable. It is seen as “a ‘Trojan horse’ that may open the route for other GMO applications.
- The humanitarian license governing the use of Golden Rice allows farmers with income less than USD$10,000 to have free access to the grain. However, it only permits these farmers to engage in national (and not international) trade of this rice . This, and international trade agreements on GMOs, will limit the income potential of the farmers by barring access to certain markets.
Instructions
- Get informed on your assigned topic. Using the given information and your own additional research, complete the chart below to organize your arguments (This will be turned in) (15 minutes)
- Convince others of your argument. Give a brief opening statement that explains your stance to the audience (3 minutes)
- After hearing all the arguments, decide if you are pro GMO or against GMO. Everyone will choose a side and participate in the debate!