It’s a rainy morning in the Science City of Muñoz, where the public consultation on the proposed Golden Rice field trials is taking place in a couple of minutes. I see some city agriculture and fishery council members in the audience. 
The presiding councilor acknowledges the various stakeholders present: nutritionists, co-op members, etc.
Dr Jerry Rigos, head of the city Vet and Agri office, shares the rationale of the public consultation: to let the public know about Golden Rice. He also notes that GM products are not new to Filipinos: soy, milk, cheese, and GM corn which have improved farmers incomes.
Dr Karen Barroga of PhilRice (which lodged the field trial application) talks about micronutrient deficiency in the Philippines. Over 20% of Filipino children 6 mo - 6 yo have vitamin A deficiency. (20% and up = severe public health problem).
Biofortification, or adding nutrients directly to the crop, can be a complementary solution to current VAD interventions.
Barroga: Golden Rice, like other GM crops, undergoes rigorous bio safety protocols during R&D. In PH, 5 different government agencies (DA, DENR, DOH, DOST, DILG) are tasked to assess all applications.
Public consultations are an integral part of the decision making process. goo.gl/dSWP8c
Letters of comment can be sent to The Director, Bureau of Plant Industr, San Andres, Malate, Manila bpibiotechsecretariat@yahoo.com
It’s open forum time! First Q: Will eating GM rice have an effect on human health? Dr Barroga notes that other regulatory agencies have assessed Golden Rice as safe & nutritious . PhilRice shares the public’s concerns, which is why research should continue.
PhilRice Healthier Rice project leader Dr Rey Ordonio notes that the gene added to the rice adds beta-carotene, and beta-carotene has a history of safe use. He clarifies that it’s a different gene from the one in GM corn, which the farmer (who asked Q) is concerned about.
2nd Q from the city nutritionist: VAD is a problem and Golden Rice seems to have potential, but is it affordable? Will there be government support for it, so that it is accessible and affordable (cites example of iron-fortified rice) to farmers and consumers?
Dr Barroga: Golden Rice is not hybrid, it can be replanted in succeeding seasons. We are working on developing appropriate deployment program to ensure accessibility and affordability.
Dr Marissa Romero, a food scientist at PhilRice, clarifies that mechanical fortification was used for iron fortified rice (gets washed off), but biofortified Golden Rice has beta-carotene embedded in it.
3rd Q from a farmer: Based on what I heard, Golden Rice is acceptable. When is it available for planting? Dr Barroga: We have to follow a process, so it will only be available once the Bureau of Plant Industry has given the go-signal.
Emma Eusebio of BPI: After field trials, another application for commercialization must be lodged and approved before it can be made available. Golden Rice has to go through proper regulatory process before it reaches the market.
It’s a full house despite the rain, and people are still coming in.
Alfie of MASIPAG: 1) Low quantities of beta-carotene acc to US FDA, stunted Golden Rice in India. 2) is there a need for it? Existing intervention, vit A rich food is enough. 3) might open up market for GM rice and patents 4) GM is a new tech, no testing on humans yet
Abe Manalo of Biotech Coalition of the Philippines: FDA note is for labeling purposes, not for nutrient assessment. Raul Boncodin of IRRI: FDA computation based on avg US consumption (10 kg/annum), but for PH (avg 120 kg/annum), this provides sufficient beta-carotene
Dr Romero: Diverse diet is recommended, but not everyone can afford this. And no one has eaten GM rice yet, GM products are already on the market with no adverse effects.
Dr Ordonio: Golden Rice R&D is a long process and entailed evaluating a series of events. (Learn from previous research to improve succeeding events). Most recent event in Nueva Ecija meets target qualities.
Boncodin: India study is on the previous GR2R event, which IRRI has evaluated and has since replaced with GR2E.
Two councilors have spoken up on the need for continued research. (On a side note: Does the Science City of Muñoz have the most science-y local council? The mayor has a PhD, and there are agricultural engi
Dr Nina Gloriani, an MD and president of BCP addresses Dengvaxia concerns: It can’t be compared to Golden Rice. Vaccines work differently from food. Also beta-carotene is converted as needed by the body, so is not toxic.
Gloriani: GM should be assessed on a case to case basis.
Alfie: Vegetables have more beta-carotene content so is Golden Rice really necessary? City nutritionist notes that there is no single food that can solve VAD, and not everyone eats vegetables regularly.
City nutritionist: Cooking vegetables also reduces the nutrient content, which is why diverse diets are necessary. Rice is the staple food and embedding nutrients in it is a good way of getting it in the body.
There’s another concerned person here: Unhealthy kids = bad parenting and gadgets contribute to bad eyesight. Also, tech shouldn’t be rushed (can spell disaster).
Also notes farmers need for minimum input (too expensive, reeks of corporate control). City councilor acknowledges issues, notes that the point of the field trial is to continue the research and see whether Golden Rice is safe to plant and safe to eat, meets farmer needs.
A member of the city agriculture and fishery council: Biotech isn’t new. Ive been a farmer for 20 years and have been using biotech.
Dr Romero addresses a concern on genetic diversity loss: PhilRice also conducts research on traditional rice varieties. Scope of PhilRice research is wide and addresses differing needs of farmers.
And we’re done (wasn’t able to live tweet the last fifteen minutes—lots of back and forth commentary). Overheard a farmer chide one of the objectors: It’s only a proposal (for a field trial), and you’re already trying to stop it.
My takeaway: The local community is supportive of research (science ftw!) and the local council appreciates hearing multiple perspectives; they made sure to call on all the known anti activists in the audience and listen to what they had to say.
