Genetically Modified "Golden Rice" Donated to Fight Blindness in Developing Countries
The inventors of a genetically modified rice designed to fight blindness
caused by Vitamin A deficiency have granted their approval to an agreement
between two biotech companies that calls for the companies to donate the
seeds to developing countries while selling it commercially in industrialized
countries.
The Vitamin A-enriched rice was developed with funding from the New York
City-based Rockefeller Foundation, which
views biotechnology as a possible solution to world hunger and is interested in
fostering the development of genetically modified crops that are resistant to
drought, pests, and soil toxins.
Professor Ingo Potrykus, who colloborated with German researcher Peter
Beyer on the invention of the so-called "golden rice," said he hoped the
agreement between Anglo-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and the German company
Greenovation would be the first in a series of private-public partnerships
involving crops important to the Third World.
"We need to find an alliance between business on the one hand and research
on the other. I hope this example will make other companies think in the
same way," said Potrykus.
Under the donation program, the seeds will be distributed to government-run
centers, which will then distribute it to local farmers. Farmers will be allowed to
earn up to $10,000 annually from the sale of their genetically modified crops
without having to pay royalties.
Anti-GM activists, who view the donation as an attempt to improve the image
of the biotech industry, argue that health claims for the rice are overstated
and unproven.
According to Potrykus, however, many developing nations, including Vietnam,
Thailand, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, have already expressed "overwhelming"
interest in receiving the seeds. "There will always be skeptics...but this
is a humanitarian exercise."
In addition to the protests from anti-GM protestors, AstraZeneca officials admit
that the two-tier price system might be difficult to maintain.
"We're going to see how this plays out on the ground before we regard it as
a model to be copied," said a spokesperson for the Rockefeller Foundation.
Wrong, Michela and Nikki Tait. "Third World to Receive GM Rice." Financial
Times 5/16/2000.
Phillips, Ian. "'Golden Rice' to be Donated to Poor." Associated Press
5/16/2000.
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