Flood Resistant Gene in Rice Discovered
Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in the Philippines announced recently that they have isolated the gene, labelled Sub1A-1, that allows rice to survive flooding for up to 2 weeks. To countless poor rice farmers that have been repeatedly been hit with crop losses year after year due to typhoons and moonsoon rains, this revelation gives them hope.
Rice is one crop that thrives, partially covered, in standing water. However, like all plants, it will die once fully submerged for a lengthy period of time. Completely underwater, the oxygen and carbon dioxide cycle necessary for plant life is disrupted causing the plant to wither and die.
Dr David Mackill, of IRRI said:
“Several traditional rice varieties have exhibited a greater tolerance to submergence, but attempts to breed that tolerance into commercially viable rice failed to generate successful varieties.”
For over 50 years, scientists have been studying how to overcome this agricultural nightmare. Rice is the staple food for over 3 billion people around the world. About a quarter of the world’s rice crop is grown in low-lying areas prone to flooding. There is an estimated crop loss of 1 billion US dollars annually due to this.
Team member Dr Pamela Ronald of the University of California, Davis said:
“Our research team anticipates that these newly developed rice varieties will help ensure a more dependable food supply for poor farmers and their families. And, in the long run, our findings may allow rice producers in the United States to reduce the amount of herbicides used to fight weeds.”
In the long run, this will benefit organic rice farmers in reducing weed problems.
These recent findings are now being fully utilized by the scientists to cultivate viable commercial rice varieties not only for the Philippines, but also for other countries like Bangladesh, India and the Laos. Likewise, similar studies are being made to benefit other crops like corn and soybeans.
All this talk about GMO rice being applauded all over the world makes me wonder about those who protest against genetic engineering in food. I know there is a lot of talk about GMO soybeans, but I’ve yet to hear a word against genetically modified rice. As far as I am aware, white rice as we know it today is mostly modified one way or another. The last time I heard so much noise made about rice was the development of Vitamin A-enriched rice that has benefited many young children. Anyone with thoughts on this?
IRRI August 2006 Press Release
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world’s leading rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with offices in 10 other Asian countries, it is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. Please visit the CGIAR website (www.cgiar.org) for more information.
The issue with GMO rice (in the short term at least) is the inability to save seeds. You mention India specifically, and you’ve got to remember that many rice farmers are subsistence farmers - they grow enough rice to feed themselves and support their families - barely. A switch to GMO rice is going to mean a switch to rice that cannot be seeded each year - that’s one of the main properties of GMO crops - the gene that controls the seeds is shut off. Seeds harvested from GMO plants won’t grow, forcing farmers who have saved seeds every year for centuries to BUY new rice seed each year - something they absolutely cannot afford. This may also lead to a situation similar to what has happened with corn in North America, where there is a glut of product that sells for cheaper than what it cost the farmer to grow it. In the US, that corn is heavily subsidized - the same situation is unlikely to occur in India.
For more info on GMO rice in India, check out almost any book by Vandana Shiva, or do a google search for “GMO rice India” or “GMO rice Shiva”, and you’ll have days worth of links to read on the serious **downside** of GMO rice.