Filipino farmers continue to reject the Golden Rice project, reiterating that this “unnecessary and unwanted corporate experiment” may endanger not only farmers but also consumers and the environment.

Golden Rice, which was first introduced in the late 1990s, seeks to prevent Vitamin A deficiency among its consumers. Farmers, on the other hand, continue to oppose this project, saying that this genetically-modified rice contains too little vitamin A as compared with cheaper crops available in the Philippines.

Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Monday, Aug. 8, said that if the proponents of the golden rice are serious about addressing Vitamin A deficiency, they could simply support local farmers planting crops.

“Ang pangako ng Golden Rice o Vitamin A-Rice na ito raw ang sagot sa problema sa malnutrisyon ay walang siyentipikong basehan at walang konsiderasyon sa ibang aspeto ng Vitamin A deficiency at kagutuman. Dahil sa kahirapan, hindi lamang Vitamin A deficiency ang problema kundi pati na rin ang kakulangan ng iba’t-ibang klaseng nutrisyon (The promise of Golden Rice or Vitamin A-Rice that it will be the solution to end malnutrition has no scientific basis with no consideration to other aspects of Vitamin A deficiency and hunger. Due to poverty, the problem is not only Vitamin A deficiency but also the lack of various types of nutrition),” KMP Bicol pointed out.

The farmers then challenged President and Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to take a decisive stand against Golden Rice.

“We call upon the urgent cancellation of golden rice’s hastily approved permits. While his dictator father paved the way for the domination of foreign agrochemical transnational corporations and the prevalence of imported chemical-dependent agriculture through Masagana 99, Marcos Jr. should be free to think on his own,” KMP added.