IRRI exec says Golden rice field trial will continue By Analiza S. Macatangay Friday 16th of August 2013 TweetFacebookYahooEmailShareThis PILI, Camarines Sur, Aug. 16 (PIA)--- The field trial for the golden rice variety will continue despite opposition and destruction recently made by protesters in the testing site within the compound of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 5 here, according to a top official of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Deputy director for Communications and Partnership of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Bruce Tolentino made the statement following his visit here Saturday and assessment of the damages at the Golden rice pilot site destroyed by members of the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bikol (KMB) and Sararong Inisyatiba nin Kahinwanmaan na Wasakon ang Agrokemikals na Lasong-GMO (SIKWAL – GMO) militant group, Thursday morning last week. In a press conference on the same day, Tolentino expressed dismay over the uprooting of the Golden rice plants which are already on their booting stage. DA Bicol regional executive director Eng. Abelardo R. Bragas and members of the research and technical team strongly condemned the actions of the protesters, uprooting and destroying the plots for the Golden rice plant. The protesters had reportedly also destroyed the fence and other government properties resulting to loss of valuable data and research investment. Bragas said that agency may take legal action against the perpetrators, who are mainly composed of more than 400 farmers coming from Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon. DA RFU 5 information officer Emily Bordado said that the testing of propagating the Golden rice was made known to the concerned individuals and groups prior to field trial. Bordado recalled that series dialogues with local leaders and community representatives were conducted prior to the conduct of the field trial. The field testing was closely monitored by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) composed of researchers and experts from the DA, CBSUA, barangay captain, municipal council and religious group. Bordado said that DA RFU 5 officials have always opened their doors for dialogue with the protesting groups to avoid resorting to violent acts and settle things in a peaceful manner. Meanwhile, Bert Autor, coordinator of SIKWALGMOs and secretary general of the KMB, said in a press statement that the farmers were not able to control their emotional outburst, and that they (farmers) were fired up by warnings from “concerned scientists and peasant leaders” about the dangers of the Golden rice or genetically modified (GM) rice to health and its threat to biodiversity. He said that the Golden rice “was nothing but a ploy of agrochemical TNCs, like Syngenta, to satisfy their monopoly on seeds and rake more profit." DA RFU 5 officials however denied the allegation batting that the field trials were duly permitted by the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), the national regulatory authority in the Philippines for biotechnology research and development, after establishing that the trials will pose no significant risks to human health and environment. Golden rice is a new type of rice which contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A. Leading nutrition and agricultural research organizations are working together to evaluate Golden Rice as a potential new way to reduce Vitamin A deficiency. Part of this evaluation is the conduct of multi-location field trails to ensure that Golden rice is effective and safe, and can be planted , grown and harvested just like other popular rice varieties. (MAL/LSM/DABordado-DARFU5/PIA5) pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=861376278073
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 01:42:08 +0000
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