The Controversy Over Golden Rice

The controversy over genetically modified organisms has been raging on for quite awhile now. Now comes an article in the New York Times on how that controversy is affecting the Philippines and the introduction of Golden Rice.

Golden Rice differs from many GMO crops in that its added genetic materials are there for nutritional benefit (to produce beta carotene, the source of vitamin A). Golden Rice also is not owned by any company and is being developed by a nonprofit group called the International Rice Research Institute for the benefit of the Philippine people and eventually the world.

I have very strong views on GMO foods and do everything I can to limit their use in my life. I believe that there has not been enough research on the long term effects of the introduction of this technology to the biome and that certain multinational corporations have rushed their products to the marketplace. But I have to say that in this particular instance, the opponents to Golden Rice might be barking up the wrong tree.

Read the article and judge for yourself.