[O43] High Quality Food and Ingredients

[O43-07] Agricultural Innovation for Improved Human Nutrition and Health

(Invited Speaker)

^○Russell Reinke (International Rice Research Institute, Philippines)

Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness and child mortality. An estimated 33% of the world's preschool age children are vitamin A deficient (VAD). Golden Rice is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene (provitamin A) in the rice grain to address VAD. It can complement existing VAD control efforts by supplying up to 30-50% of the EAR for vitamin A for vulnerable groups (women and children) in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines, however Golden Rice requires regulatory approvals in these countries before deployment. We conducted molecular, phenotypic and compositional characterization of GR2E and control rice to substantiate that the food derived from golden rice is safe. GR2E introgression lines matched the performance of the recurrent parents for agronomic and yield performance and grain quality. No differences were observed in terms of pest and disease reaction per site. Lines in each genetic background had significant amounts of carotenoids in the milled grains two months after harvest and can meet our nutrition targets. Significant progress has been made in achieving regulatory approvals, and multiple agencies have declared Golden Rice is as safe as ordinary rice. Recently the Philippines issued an approval for Commercial Propagation, allowing deployment of Golden Rice. Golden Rice is finally making its way to farmers' fields, and further innovations such as high iron and zinc rice are under development.