IRRI, PhilRice Eye Golden Rice as Staple Food for Filipinos

San Mateo, Isabela (PIA) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRICE) have been considering golden rice as staple food for Filipinos and a solution to malnutrition.

Golden Rice Project Coordinator Dr. Violeta Villegas of IRRI in Los Banos, Laguna said Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A.

She said many people in the country today do not get enough vitamin A or beta carotene from the food they eat, contributing to the serious public health problem of vitamin A deficiency.

“Vitamin A is an essential nutrient needed by the body for healthy growth and development. Vitamin A deficiency impairs the immune system, which increases the risk of death from certain common infections among young children,” she said.

Villegas said the IRRI and PhilRICE are now undergoing rigorous field evaluations to assess if golden rice is safe, effective and can be planted, grown and harvested just like genetically modified crops and other popular rice varieties.

She said that golden rice would be available to farmers and consumers only if it has been determined to be safe to humans, animals, environment and authorized for commercial planting by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Villegas assured that golden rice, when released, would be safe to people and animals for consumption and conducive to the environment.

“Golden rice is yet to available for consumers to purchase or eat as it is still undergoing further researches,” Villegas added. (ALM/MGE/PIA-2 Isabela)