Golden rice: Perspectives from a perpetual rice-eater (Part 1 of 2) (original) (raw)

2017

Abstract

The objective of this column is certainly not to criticize the noble initiative called ‘Golden rice’ and the invaluable efforts and commitments of the scientists, civil society organizations, donors, philanthropists, research institutes and corporate entities. Having worked in the agri-food industry (both corporate and non-profit sector), I am personally involved in several projects and also witnessed great impacts of multi-stakeholder initiatives in improving the livelihoods, health and well-being of the poorest of the poor particularly, in Asia. I neither question the divine and benevolent intent of solving Vitamin A deficiency (particularly, children) nor oppose it like some pseudo-activists who always cast doubt on any new technology or initiative based only on falsified, non-scientific half-truths and purely emotional claims. In this article, I wish to elicit only some specific and most important traditional, socio-cultural, and religious aspects of South India associated with rice – as a crop, food staple, a cultural symbol etc.

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