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Golden Rule
By
St. Louis
Post-Dispatch
Monsanto Co. did the right thing last week when it gave away its
patent rights on genetically modified rice.
From the beginning,
supporters have touted the potential of bioengineered foods to feed the
world's starving millions. With its bold announcement last week,
Monsanto took an important step toward realizing that
promise.
Even so, there will be no quick fix to rescue the
estimated 1.3 million children who die or lose their sight every year
because of Vitamin A deficiency. That condition can be alleviated by
eating a genetically modified grain known as golden rice, which is rich
in beta carotene. The rice was developed by professors Ingo Potrykus and
Peter Beyer.
Unfortunately, the countries most in need of golden
rice are those least able to pay for it. Because of that, Monsanto had
no intention of marketing it. But the professors waived their patent
rights in May. Mr. Potrykus now plans to use Monsanto's decision to spur
other patent holders to do the right thing. AstroZeneca has already
agreed to allow golden rice to be given away in poor countries. In
exchange, the company would be allowed to sell it in wealthy
countries.
Before golden rice begins filling the bellies of
starving children, governments often skeptical of Western intervention
-- and bioengineered foods in particular -- will have to permit its
planting.
It will likely be several years before the rice is in
widespread cultivation. By then, several million additional children
will have died and more than a half million others will have been
blinded by a lack of Vitamin A.
If golden rice is embraced by
farmers in poor countries, analysts predict it could help clear the way
for wider acceptance of other bioengineered foods from which Monsanto
and others could reap huge profits. If it can save lives and sight,
without disrupting traditional agricultural practices and ecosystems,
the promise of biotechnology will have begun to be realized.
Dated : 08 August 2000
Copyright 2000 St.
Louis Post-Dispatch All Rights Reserved.
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