TAG: GS 3: AGRICULTURE
THE CONTEXT: Golden Rice, a genetically modified crop designed to combat vitamin A deficiency, has faced significant regulatory hurdles in the Philippines.
EXPLANATION:
- On April 17, 2024, the Court of Appeals of the Philippines (CA) revoked the biosafety permits for the commercial production of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant, citing unresolved safety, health, and legal concerns.
- This decision has sparked international debate, highlighting the tension between biotechnology proponents and environmental and public health advocates.
What is Golden Rice?
- Golden Rice is a genetically modified variety of rice that has been engineered to contain higher levels of iron, zinc, and beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A.
- Its distinctive yellow color is due to the presence of beta-carotene.
- The development of Golden Rice aimed to address vitamin A deficiency, which the World Health Organization identifies as a significant public health issue affecting about one-third of children aged 6 to 59 months globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- In 2021, the Philippines became the first country to approve the commercial production of Golden Rice.
- This approval was seen as a milestone in the fight against micronutrient deficiencies.
- The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) spearheaded the development of Golden Rice, while Bt eggplant was developed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
- However, these advancements were met with resistance from various non-profit organizations, including Greenpeace and local farmer groups.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
- On April 17, 2024, the Court of Appeals of the Philippines issued a cease and desist order, halting the commercial propagation, field testing, and related activities of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant.
- The court mandated that the concerned government agencies must provide proof of safety and compliance with all legal requirements before proceeding.
- The decision emphasized the lack of established mechanisms to monitor the safety of growing and consuming Golden Rice.
- The court’s decision followed a petition for a Writ of Kalikasan, filed on October 17, 2022, by various non-profit corporations, local farmers, scientists, and non-government organizations.
- The Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy in the Philippines that protects the constitutional right to a healthy environment.
- Respondents to the petition included the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and Bureau of Plant Industry.
- Executive director of DA-PhilRice acknowledged the court’s decision and stated that the institution is reviewing the implications to prepare an appropriate response.
- UPLB, respecting the court’s order, coordinated with the office of the solicitor general to determine the next steps.
- UPLB emphasized its compliance with all government standards and protocols in developing Bt eggplant technology, highlighting its benefits for farmers and the environment.
Broader Implications and Controversies
- Critics of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant argue that insufficient safety assessments and lack of monitoring mechanisms pose significant risks.
- Greenpeace and other organizations have expressed concerns about the long-term health effects and environmental impacts of genetically modified crops.
- The decision reflects these concerns, prioritizing the constitutional right to a healthy environment over the commercial interests of agrochemical companies.
- Proponents of Golden Rice argue that halting its production could have severe consequences for addressing vitamin A deficiency, especially in regions where the deficiency is prevalent.
- They emphasize that Golden Rice has the potential to improve the health of millions of children by providing a crucial source of vitamin A.
- The World Health Organization classifies vitamin A deficiency as a major public health problem, affecting approximately 44% of children in South Asia and 48% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Bt eggplant:
- Bt eggplant has been genetically modified to produce a protein that eliminates the threat of the ravenous eggplant fruit and shoot borer.
- The “Bt” in Bt eggplant stands for “Bacillus thuringiensis”, a soil bacterium that harbors a gene called cry1-Ac.
- The cry1-Ac gene produces an insecticidal protein that is effective in controlling the larvae of certain moths that bore into and feed on the shoots, leaves, and fruit of plants.
- This protein is toxic to a narrow range of insects but is not harmful to animals or humans.
- In the last few years, several crops have been genetically engineered to produce their own Bt proteins, making them resistant to specific groups of insects. Bt eggplant is genetically engineered to contain its own EFSB resistance mechanism − the Bt gene, cry1-Ac.
- The cry1-Ac protein produced in Bt eggplant is similar in structure and activity to that found in nature and is already available and used commercially in the form of Bt-based biopesticide favored by organic growers.
- However, pesticidal sprays are only effective during the brief window before the larva hatches from the egg and bores into the fruit or shoot of the plant.
