Half
the world depends on rice as a staple food in their diet.
Unfortunately rice is not a good source for some vitamins
and minerals. A lack of vitamin A is especially a problem
for children in Asia. It is believed that approximately 70%
of children under five years of age suffer from vitamin A
deficiency , causing blindness in thousands of children.
Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer are two scientist who found a
way to fortify rice with vitamin A. Rice lacks beta-carotene
which can be converted to vitamin A when digested.
Therefor
Potrykus
an Beyer inserted genes from daffodils which , naturally
produce beta-carotene , into rice. Since beta-carotene is of
a yellow color the rice grains are yellow instead of white
when harvested. Hence the name Golden Rice. Some people
believe this could be a solution to one of the world's
oldest and most serious problem , while others deam it as a
corporate quick fix that
ignores the real causes of hunger. Companies such as Zeneca
Agrochemicals and Monsanto said they would give this rice
seed to Asian farmers free of charge.