The consumption of the genetically modified rice variety known as Golden Rice (GR) offers a potent and cost-effective strategy to combat [vitamin A deficiency]. But this innovation has been cast aside owing to fear or false accusations, resulting in numerous lives needlessly lost. With the recent exception of the Philippines, governments have not approved the cultivation of GR. We believe it should be broadly approved and given the opportunity to save and improve lives.

Those who oppose transgenic or genetically modified organisms raised concerns that led policymakers to delay the approval of the technologies. One argument relates to biotechnology company profits. But because the GR technology to the public sector is available at no cost for humanitarian uses, this concern is irrelevant. There are no limitations, except export, on GR use: replanting or selling or giving away seed, or polishing for consumption or sale.

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The tragedy of GR is that regulatory delays of approval have immense costs in terms of preventable deaths, with no apparent benefit. The approval of GR is even more urgent with the ongoing pandemic, which has made access to healthcare services more difficult in vulnerable populations worldwide.

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