by Daniel Brouse
WASHINGTON, DC — Although social media is full of unsubstantiated claims about GMO’s, the truth is: there is no evidence that GMO’s are harmful. In fact, quite the contrary. For instance, there are specific breeds of tomatoes, potatoes and carrots being grown for their additional health benefits.
Such a beneficial crop, Golden Rice, has just won a humanitarian award. Not only is Golden Rice more nutritious, it is also less harmful to the environment. There are numerous health benefits including β-Carotene providing vitamin A to children. The environment would also see a positive impact in many parts of the world from Golden Rice. Because the rice is more nutritious, less of it needs to be consumed. In addition, a healthy population is much less taxing on the natural resources.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office stated, “Despite current interventions, vitamin A deficiency is the leading killer of children globally (2-3 million annually) and also the leading cause of childhood blindness (500,000 cases annually). Most cases arise in Asia where the staple food eaten by 3.5 billion people daily, white rice, lacks vitamin A sources typically found in meat and leafy vegetables. These deaths and blindness are preventable.
Golden Rice was genetically enhanced to provide a source of vitamin A for people subsisting mainly on rice. Professors Potrykus and Beyer invented the technology after a decade of research, and have worked with Dr. Dubock since 2000 to donate it to the resource poor in developing countries. Patenting the technology allowed the inventors to partner with Syngenta on commercial projects in return for support of their humanitarian objectives to make Golden Rice available free of charge to those in need. Local Golden Rice varieties are currently being developed by public sector institutions in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam, with a target cost no more than white rice.”
In a statement, Golden Rice said, “The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have announced the winners of the 2015 recipients of the Patents for Humanity Award, among them the Golden Rice Project.
Patents for Humanity is a USPTO program that recognizes patent owners and licensees working to improve global health and living standards for underserved populations. The program advances the President’s global development agenda by recognizing private sector leaders who bring life-saving technologies to those in need, while showing how patents are an integral part of tackling the world’s challenges.
The award has been bestowed upon the Golden Rice Project, in particular to Prof Ingo Potrykus, Prof Peter Beyer, and Dr Adrian Dubock. Dr Dubock will attend the official award ceremony on 20 April 2015, accompanied by the Golden Rice Humanitarian.”
Unfortunately, many of the countries most in need of Golden Rice have laws against importing rice; however, the Pacific Trade Partnership could help save millions of kids… annually.