You may have heard about the Golden Rice Project ( http://www.goldenrice.org ) which genetically modified (GM) rice to produce beta-carotene in their seeds. This precursor of Vitamin A is converted to Vitamin A in humans and is an especially important vitamin in children. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness and death, and this biofortified rice was developed to specifically address and alleviate this socioeconomically-linked issue. In early August, Golden Rice field trials being conducted in the Philippines were vandalized with the crops destroyed, setting back approval of this rice.
We are alerting you to this issue and ask you to join us in signing a petition co-drafted by SIVB members that condemns the senseless and irresponsible destruction of the golden rice field trial in Philippines. The petition: http://chn.ge/143PyHo Please also consider forwarding this link to friends and colleagues, and share it widely via social media.
Regards,
David Songstad, Past President, Society for In Vitro Biology
Eugene Elmore, President, Society for In Vitro Biology
Nancy Reichert, Chair, SIVB Public Policy Committee
