NEWS : First country to approve Genetically Modified ‘Golden Rice’
for “Commercial Production”
Country : Philippines
GM Rich : Vitamin A-precursor beta-carotene
Reason
It will help to combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.
Philippine/IRRI : International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
More:
IRRI has spent two decades working with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute to develop golden rice, named for its bright yellow hue.
It is the first genetically modified rice approved for commercial propagation in South and Southeast Asia, officials said Friday.
Golden rice has faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants. At least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.
The possibility of a broad GMO ban, twinned with a more fully-formed policy to prohibit the widely-used weed killer glyphosate, has been lauded by environmental groups such as Greenpeace.
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