Four years from now, a 3-in-1 rice variety that is now being developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is expected to be planted on a commercial scale throughout the country. The seven-year breeding project started in 2004, soon after PhilRice received genetically modified Golden Rice grants donated by the Gates Foundation. Field tests are expected to start before the end of 2008.

The 3-in-1 variety will be the first of its kind as it will contain three important traits never before found at the same time in a rice variety, according to the PhilRice scientist Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso who leads the breeding team. With the use of conventional breeding techniques, the breeding work involves transferring not only the genes for beta-carotene biosynthesis into the grains of local varieties but also the genes for rice tungro disease and bacterial leaf blight resistance.

Golden Rice, one of the parents of the 3-in-1 rice, is genetically modified since it is the result of genetic engineering that involved the deliberate artificial introduction of two genes from other organisms into the rice genome. The process completed the biochemical pathway that allows beta-carotene production in the rice grain, giving it the distinct yellow color. The latest version has about 23 times more carotenoid (pro-vitamin A) than the prototype, which has 1.6 micrograms per gram of grains.

However, Golden Rice is a japonica rice variety, which thrives in temperahte rice-growing countries but not under tropical conditions such as in the Philippines.

Research reports indicate that although the rice plant produces beta-carotene in its leaves and stems under normal condition, it does not produce any in its grains. For this reason, a rice-based diet contributes to high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency or VAD, particularly among the poor, who cannot afford to include vegetables, meat, and other foods rich in vitamin A in their meals on a daily basis.

Vitamin A, an antioxidant needed in vision development and bone growth, is also important in the maintenance of the human immune system. It is stored in the liver, promotes good vision, enables proper reproduction and lactation among women, and helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membrane, and skin.

“Insufficient vitamin A and beta-carotene intake for long periods of time results in morbidity and mortality, particularly among children and pregnant and lactating women – the most affected population groups,” said a research team from the Sikap / Strive Foundation and PhilRice, who conducted an “Ex-Ante Impact Evaluation of 3-in-1 Rice.”

Depending on the degree and medical severity of VAD, its visible manifestations are categorized into four: night blindness, Bitot’s spot, corneal ulceration and corneal scars. If left untreated, corneal ulceration and corneal scars may lead to permanent blindness. VAD also weakens the immune system, thereby exacerbating infections like HIV-AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), diarrhea, and measles.

The research team, led by the economist Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales of Sikap / Strive Foundation, said: “All these VAD-related diseases, in turn, translate into increased health care costs and economic losses accruing years foregone and loss of potential productivity. But more than the economic costs, the VAD problem deprives those [affected] individuals … of the basic right to an adequately healthy and active life.”

In the Philippines, VAD is considered a major health problem. A survey by the Food and Nutrition
Research Council in 2003 showed that 71 percent of total households in the country did not meet their recommended vitamin A (retinol equivalent) nutrients. Four out of every 10 Filipino children (6 months to 5 years old) suffer from VAD. This is not surprising since 2 of every 10 pregnant and lactating Filipino mothers suffer from VAD.

Added Disease Resistance
Resistance to rice tungro disease and bacterial leaf blight are being incorporated into the 3-in-1 rice because these devastating diseases recurrently plague the country.

Tungro rice disease is the most damaging viral disease of rice in the Philippines, particularly in the major rice growing areas like Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Albay, Bohol and North Cotabato. This disease is transmitted by the green leafhopper from diseased to healthy plants.

Former PhilRice Executive Director Dr. Leoacadio S. Sebastian said there is no chemical control against rice tungro disease. Aside from being costly, the disease can still occur even if the green leafhopper population is low.

Losses from rice tungro disease could be staggering. In Davao del Norte alone, crop losses in 1993 amounted to Php 10.6 million. Dr. Xuan Hoai Truong of PhilRice estimated in 1999 that crop losses from rice tungro disease could vary from 39 percent to 65 percent.

On the other hand, bacterial leaf blight occurs in the many provinces with irrigated lowlands where farmers plant susceptible varieties like IR64. These provinces include Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Bulacan.

Bacterial leaf blight is more prevalent and destructive during the wet season. It causes poor development and low grain quality as it increases the number of underdeveloped grains and reduces weight, resulting in poor maturation and a high proportion of broken grains. Experts said that the earlier bacterial leaf blight appear, the greater damage it causes.

Studies in the Philippines have reported losses if 10 percent to 60 percent from bacterial leaf blight. It was estimated that 8.1 percent of the total area planted to rice can be possibly affected by the bacterial leaf blight, and the resulting yield loss could mean about US$57.5 million of foregone production.

Experts have pointed out that the most effective and economical way preventing and managing bacterial leaf blight could be achieved primarily through the use of resistant varieties.

It is expected, therefore, that 3-in-1 rice will benefit both the farmers and consumers. For the farmers, it is expected that it will increase their profitability through reduced costs and higher yields. For the consumers, the new rice variety is expected to provide them with higher levels of micronutrients, thereby boosting the health of the rice-dependent population.

Ex-Ante Results
In their report, the research team said: “The benefits from the investments in research and development (R&D) and commercialization of 3-in-1 rice [will] outweigh the costs. It was estimated that R&D and commercialization would cost P 149 million in 2005 prices.”

In the foreword of their report, Dr. Gonzales said: “Under the conservative scenario (very low adoption rate), the net present value (NPV) of the project amounts to Php 309 million, and it has an internal rate of return (IRR) of 41 percent. The optimistic scenario predicts that the project will generate an NPV of Php 1.22 billion with an IRR of 63 percent. Aside from this, the project could generate health impacts similar to the projected impact of Golden Rice in the Philippines, which is US$16-88 million.”

Dr. Gonzales said consumption of 3-in-1 rice would not lead to intoxification due to an overdose of vitamin A because it contains only the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene, which is utilized by the body only when it suffers VAD. Beta-carotene is not known to be toxic. Even if the intake is high, any excess is excreted or stored in the body as beta-carotene, then converted to vitamin A only when the body needs it.

“Simply put, there is no danger of vitamin A toxicity in 3-in-1 rice as there is no vitamin A in Golden Rice, only the non-toxic carotenoid precursors that enable the human body to make vitamin A,” the report stated.

Moreover, the chances of outcrossing to nontransgenic rice are very low. Research at IRRI has shown that the chance of outcrossing from currently cultivated rice species is very low since these varieties are self-pollinating. Thus, people should not be afraid, since the rice pollen is viable for only 3-5 minutes.

Will farmers plant 3-in-1 rice? Two acceptability surveys were conducted to assess the perception and acceptability of genetically modified (GM) rice among farmers and consumers. In general, almost three out of five respondents or 58 percent are willing to plant / buy / sell GM rice.

Among farmer-respondents, however, 67 percent are willing to plant GM rice, while only 7.5 percent refused to plant and 23.8 percent are undecided. Among consumers, 53.6 percent are willing to buy and sell GM rice; only 10.4 percent refuse, while 35.8 percent are undecided.

The results also showed that 51 percent of the respondents are willing to pay price increases of 1 percent to 10 percent for vitamin A rice and pest-resistant GM rice. As the prices of GM rice increase to 11 percent to 30 percent, respondents’ willingness to pay for GM products declines substantially at an average of 12 percent, then to 2 percent as prices of GM rice increase to greater than 50 percent.