Scientists in the Philippines are working to make changes to rice. They hope these changes will help solve one of the world's biggest health problems: the lack of Vitamin A.
It is called "golden rice" because the rice is yellow. It has been genetically(基因方面) changed, to produce beta carotene(胡萝卜素), a form of Vitamin A.
Opponents of genetically changed foods – including the environmental group Greenpeace – do not like what the scientists are doing. But supporters of golden rice say it could help save as many as two million lives a year. Young children and pregnant women can die from Vitamin A lack.
Vitamin A is missing from the food of millions of people in the developing world. The lack is the leading cause of childhood blindness. It is a public health problem in half of all countries, including many in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Large companies do produce some genetically changed crops. They gain legal control of the plant production through patents(特许). But in the Philippines, government and donor(捐赠人) money is being used to develop golden rice. These groups hope farmers throughout the developing world will someday grow it. They hope it will help solve a problem that many scientists believe is as serious as malaria (疟疾).
Daniel Ocampo is a Southeast Asia agriculture expert for Greenpeace in Manila. He argues that golden rice is still not ready as a food for humans after 20 years of research. He says it could be more dangerous than its supporters will admit.
The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines has been experimenting with golden rice for nine years. It says it has more work to do before the rice can be eaten by humans.
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