We Pioneered a Technology to Save Millions of Poor Children, But a Worldwide Smear Campaign Has Blocked It

Education
Golden Rice Leapsmag | James Alexander Michie

On left, a picture of white rice next to Golden Rice, and on right, a girl who lost one eye due to vitamin A deficiency. (Photo Credit: Golden Rice Humanitarian Board)

It is necessary to talk about a project which has been independently praised as one of the most influential projects of the last 50 years. Where individuals discovered how to make rice produce a source of vitamin A, and rice turns golden instead of white.

Likewise, one could say that the objectives of the project have been admired by some and vilified by others. It has directly involved teams of highly motivated people from a handful of nations, both from the public and private sectors. However, success, so far, has eluded everyone. Since the story of their frustrated efforts is a tragedy that is expected to soon, finally, reach a milestone of potentially profound importance to humanity.

Specific objective

Certainly questions arise regarding the subject, as well as what have they been working on and why have they not yet achieved it?

It is clear that when referring to food, everyone needs it, and many are lucky enough to have enough, even too much. Food is a very emotional topic on all continents and in all cultures. However, poor people in countries where rice is grown often eat little more. White rice only provides energy, does not contain minerals or vitamins. And the lack of one of the vitamins, vitamin A, is responsible for killing around 4,500 poor children every day, since the lack of vitamin A is the leading cause of death of children, and also the leading cause of childhood blindness irreversible.

In this way, the project consists in correcting this dietary deficiency, vitamin A, in this crop, rice, for this group of people. However, it is a huge group: half of the world’s population lives by eating a lot of rice every day. But now, it has been discovered how to make rice produce a source of vitamin A, and rice turns golden instead of white. The source is beta carotene, which the human body converts to vitamin A. Beta carotene is what makes carrots orange.

The technology has been donated to help those who eat rice that suffer from vitamin A deficiency (‘VAD’) so that golden rice costs no more than white rice, there will be no restrictions for the small farmers who grow it, and nothing more to pay for additional nutrition. Very small amounts of beta-carotene will contribute to the relief of VAD, and even the earliest version of Golden Rice, which had smaller amounts than today’s Golden Rice, would have helped. Until now, however, no small farmer has been allowed to grow it.

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Source: Adrian Dubock | LEAPSMAG

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