Scientists have warned that a court decision to block the growing of the genetically modified (GM) crop Golden Rice in the Philippines could have catastrophic consequences. Tens of thousands of children could die in the wake of the ruling, they argue.
The Philippines had become the first country – in 2021 – to approve the commercial cultivation of Golden Rice, which was developed to combat vitamin A deficiency, a major cause of disability and death among children in many parts of the world.
But campaigns by Greenpeace and local farmers last month persuaded the country’s court of appeal to overturn that approval and to revoke this. The groups had argued that Golden Rice had not been shown to be safe and the claim was backed by the court, a decision that was hailed as “a monumental win” by Greenpeace.
Many scientists, however, say there is no evidence that Golden Rice is in any way dangerous. More to the point, they argue that it is a lifesaver.
Golden rice was developed as part of a non profit grant. Seed is distributed free of charge to farmers with an annual profit of $10k or less, and they are permitted to keep and replant seed as much as they want. Nutritionally it is identical to normal rice except it contains high levels of vitamin A for which large portions of the population in the Philippines (and many other countries) have a critical deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency has a major impact on childhood mortality rates.
The only criticism they have is that it’s a gmo crop and they don’t trust its safety, which is really just a PR issue because it has been thoroughly tested for human consumption. Your response is a perfect example of making the problem worse through your ignorance.
Right, right… oil tycoon money, wasn’t it?
Who owns the patent to this garbage, eh? And what happens when they decide to… you know - go mask off capitalist after the monocropping have enriched their subservient crony elites in Indonesia while impoverishing the farming folk?
Why are these countries so impoverished that they can’t supply their own people with proper nutrition? Perhaps it has something to do with the colonialist pillaging perpetrated by the likes of those oil tycoons and their ilk?
Your response is a perfect example of why liberalism (and your attending bootlicking for colonialism) needs to be crushed into powder and then napalmed out of existence.
“others may die for my ideals, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay”
Grow up.
They’re already suffering for your consumerist dystopia, liberal - getting angry because your rich colonizers don’t get to exploit them even further won’t change that.
Your thought process is truly dizzying. A non-profit, distributing a seed to save lives; one that does actually go to seed (meaning the farmers WILL BUY LESS AND LESS SEED OVER TIME) is colonizers exploiting them. Willful ignorance, arguing because you get off on it, or do you actually believe the bullshit you spew?
Whatever, get wrecked.
Edit to add: imagine - calling me a liberal thinking it’s an insult.
That’s because it is an insult, liberal - it’s only liberals that don’t get that.
Since when is Syngenta a “non-profit?”
Since when does capitalist megacorps care about “saving lives,” liberal? Do you need your own rancid ideology explained to you?
Take your colonialism apologetics and shove it where the sun don’t shine, bootlicker.