Safety Considerations for Genetically Engineered Rice

Rice feeds more than half of the world’s population. In much of Asia, rice is the staple food. The highest producing countries of rice are in Asia; in 2004, China produced 177,434,000 Mt (metric ton) of rice paddy, India produced 129,000,000 Mt and Indonesia produced 54,060,816 Mt (FAOSTAT 2005). Agricultural biotechnology has been developing at a rapid pace, and genetic engineering has been proposed as a means of improving various aspects of crop production. Rice has been no exception, and developing countries have been urged to facilitate the adoption of genetically engineered (GE) rice (e.g. Datta 2004). Uptake of GE rice in Asia, particularly China, is seen by some as potentially demonstrating the benefits of genetic engineering and reducing opposition to it (Brookes and Barfoot 2004). China, the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice, is reportedly on the brink of commercializing GE rice (AsiaPulse 2005; Jia 2004; Lei 2004). Chinese scientists have been researching GE rice since the 1980s. Research is also being conducted in other Asian countries, including Japan, India, the Philippines and Thailand. Despite the apparent positive outlook for GE rice, serious concerns have been raised in respect of its impact on the environment, human and animal health, and socio-economic situations (e.g. Cummins 2004; Stabinsky and Cotter 2004a, 2004b). There have also been a number of reports about unapproved GE rice entering the market and food chain in China (Barboza 2005; Brown 2005; Reuters 2005), highlighting instances of regulatory failure. In particular, it appears that GE rice research has thus far outpaced safety considerations. He Changchui, Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, has been quoted as saying that Asian governments should move cautiously before approving commercial planting of GE rice (Mohanty 2004). He urged governments to undertake extensive risk assessment on food safety. This paper examines some of the safety issues that will need to be seriously considered before any commercialization of GE rice occurs.