In the Philippines, the variety of grain known as “Golden Rice” has been subject to field trials since the beginning of April. Genetically modified to contain higher quantities of pro-vitamin A, this rice may be available to farmers as early as 2011. Information on the status of its field trials has been provided by Mr Gerard Barry, coordinator of the Golden Rice Network and staff member of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

By nature, vitamin A is almost completely absent from rice. Diseases caused by this deficiency are widespread in many Asian countries in which the grain serves as a dietary staple. Through the use of gene technology, researchers have developed a variety of the plant that produces greater proportions of beta-carotene, a compound which may be processed by the human body into vitamin A. The rice also displays an enhanced iron content and, in the grains, the presence of such enhanced levels of beta-carotene results in a yellow tint that has prompted the name of “Golden Rice”.

Original field trials with Golden Rice already took place in Louisiana, USA, in 2004. The grain was crossed with other rice types that were adapted to local conditions in developing countries and which are to be distributed free of cost to small farmers.

Globally, the Philippines is one of the most important importers of rice. Representing six per cent of the national land area, only 1.9 million hectares of irrigated fields are available for local rice production. In comparison, Thailand and Vietnam cultivate rice on 9.9 and 7.5 million hectares respectively, representing nineteen and twenty-three per cent of their land areas.

Genetically modified rice has played no role to date in the production of nutrition. Nonetheless, in China, India and Indonesia, as well as in the Philippines, its commercial cultivation may be expected in the near future.