TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The newest rice variety named Golden Rice will soon reach farmers as the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is on the process of producing more seeds for commercial propagation.
This rice variety, officially known as NSIC 2022 RC 682 GR2E or Malusog-1, underwent varietal registration with the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) in April 2022.
Golden Rice contains Beta Carotene, a source of Vitamin A. This compound is what gives this grain its yellow-orange or golden color, hence its name.
It was developed through genetic engineering and is an enhanced version of ordinary rice designed to handle a specific nutrition issue, without any additional cost or difference in taste.
Dr. Ronan G. Zagado, lead of the Golden Rice Program, said that Golden Rice is one of the interventions of the government to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency, which remains to be one among the public health concerns not only in the Philippines but worldwide, especially among women and children.
He said that based on research, a cup of Golden Rice may provide up to 30-50% of the Vitamin A needs of preschool-age children and pregnant or lactating mothers.
"Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections. This is one of the reasons why we introduce Golden Rice," Zagado said.
He said with the release of the biosafety permit for commercial propagation of the Golden Rice, DA-PhilRice, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute and other partners, is on the process of propagating seeds for commercial farm cultivation.
Zagado also stated that the program is still on a pilot-scale deployment in which some areas were identified for seed production, including one in the Cagayan Valley region. (MDCT/OTB/PIA Region 2).