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Vice Blog

LONDON - MAGIC RICE REVISITED

Golden Rice is a genetically modified rice enriched with vitamins that can rid the world of malnutrition. It first appeared nearly a decade ago but is still unavailable for human consumption. In that time millions of people have died from the very same dietary deficiencies that Golden Rice promised to prevent. We spoke to the inventor of this magical grain to find out why he hasn't saved the world yet.

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Vice: How do you make Golden Rice?
Professor Ingo Potrykus: Golden Rice is made by introducing two genes (one from maize and a second one from a common soil bacterium) into rice in such a way that they convert into pro-vitamin A.

What does that achieve?
Golden Rice provides enough pro-vitamin A to prevent malnutrition in rice-dependent poor populations.

What difference would Golden Rice make in the world today?
A recent study by the World Bank said that the adoption of Golden Rice technology would strengthen the world economy to the tune of $15.2 billion. This is mainly due to the improved working power of poor people because of better health. The adoption of GM technology in agriculture would save the lives of millions of poor people and would make life more pleasant for human society.

That sounds awesome! Why isn't it being planted in paddy fields now? Is it because people are scared of GM foods?
GM regulation has not been adjusted to our present state of scientific knowledge. There is no scientific justification for the stigma. Hundreds of studies from public institutions all say GM plants are totally normal. GM crops have be consumed by millions of people across the world and there has never been a single incident of harm. I do not know of any other technology with such a fantastic track record in safety.

I guess people think organic food is safer.
GM food is actually safer than organic food. Muslims not eating pig meat is more rational than anybody not eating GM food.

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Really?
All GM-derived foods have passed extensive tests that prove they do not pose any risk to the consumer. Organic food has never been tested in this respect. There is even evidence that it may well be harmful because of increased contents of unhealthy substances such as aflatoxins.

How does Golden Rice stand up to suggestions that the dangers of GM food lie in its long-term, incremental build-up in the body?
Golden Rice provides pro-vitamin A, which we've been consuming for thousands of years, ever since we started eating carrots or green leafy vegetables. Maybe you should stop eating carrots if you are worried about long-term incremental built up of pro-vitamin A in the body.

How rigorous have the safety studies on Golden Rice been?
The safety studies are as rigorous as with any other GM crop. They are not completed yet, but will be before Golden Rice is released.

When will that be?
Since 1999 I have been pushing product development and deregulation. Hopefully, it will be freely available to the needy from 2012 onwards.

Do you think that the cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes reflects society's latent fear of science messing with their food?
Haven't seen it, but the title could not be more stupid.

Have you ever been the victim of threats from anti-GM activists?
I have experienced a lot of hostility, but never a physical attack.

You seem pretty angry about all this.
I am really pissed off by these ideological questions which reflect nothing else but undigested repetitions of the stupid myths from the GM opposition.

KING BB