Golden Rice E-Newsletter
June 2022 | Issue No. 6 of 2022
This newsletter is intended to keep our partners and stakeholders updated on the latest activities and news about the development and deployment of Golden Rice in the Philippines.
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LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte is poised to deploy Golden Rice seeds for production in this northern part of Luzon this wet season to reduce the incidence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among its residents through the consumption of the beta-carotene-enriched golden rice.
Through a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Plant Industry, Agricultural Training Institute, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, the planting of Golden Rice will be rolled out in the province for on-farm grain and seed production with selected farmer-cooperators, said provincial board member Domingo Ambrocio, Jr., chair of the committee on agriculture on Wednesday.
Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3yoj8PC
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Handover of Golden Rice Seeds conducted in Lanao del Norte
DA-PhilRice and the International Rice Research Institute handed over Golden Rice seeds to selected seed growers in Lanao del Norte as part of the expanded seed production of Golden Rice at the Municipal Agriculture Office in Lala, Lanao del Norte on June 2, 2022.
DA-PhilRice Agusan Branch Station Director Dr. Caesar Joventino Tado led the ceremonial handover and signing of the memorandum of agreement with the partner seed growers in the province in partnership with municipal agriculturists, rice and seed coordinator, and other stakeholders.
Seed growers expressed their support and excitement in planting Golden Rice as they’ve been wanting to grow it even before.
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Golden Rice updates shared with BD, ID, PH media
Dr. Russell Reinke, Healthier Rice Program lead at IRRI, faced agriculture journalists from Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines in the final leg of the Virtual Media Roundtable series organized by the United States Department of Agriculture and Farming Future Bangladesh on June 6, 2022 via Zoom. Reinke’s presentation, “Golden Rice: moving from approval to impact– the Philippines’ journey,” emphasized the critical role of strong partnerships and an enabling policy environment to the regulatory success and ongoing deployment of Golden Rice seeds in the country.
See related story here: http://bitly.ws/swBS and http://bitly.ws/swBV
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Golden Rice discussed in IPB forum
In celebration of the Institute of Plant Breeding’s (IPB) 47th Founding Anniversary, a forum entitled "Communicating Plant Breeding Innovations" was held on June 7, 2022. The speakers presented the communication strategies used in promoting plant breeding innovations as well as the challenges encountered in the adoption and commercialization of genetically modified crops. Communicating with the public is one of the significant steps to supply “common knowledge,” bridge the gap, achieve public engagement, and ultimately, strengthen trust between science and society.
Dr. Ronan Zagado, Golden Rice Program Lead, discussed the role of the communication and stakeholder engagement in the deployment of Golden Rice.
You may view the full video of the discussion here.
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Region 5 media attend Golden Rice briefing
The Golden Rice Program, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 5, conducted a briefing to mobilize the media to raise awareness and increase acceptability of Golden Rice in Region 5 on June 7, 2022 at Ninong’s Hotel in Legazpi City, Albay.
Practitioners from different media companies like Philippine Information Agency, DWRL Radyo Pilipino, Radyo Veritas Legazpi, Rappler, Albay Broadcasting Network, Mayon Internet TV, Philippine News Agency Bicol, GMA Bicol, ABS-CBN Bicol, Bombo Radyo and others attended the media briefing.
Dr. Victoria Lapitan, branch director of DA-PhilRice Bicol, highlighted that Catanduanes is one of the pilot areas to deploy Golden Rice because of VAD prevalence in the province. “According to the DOST FNRI Survey, there are 59% of stunting and 39% of wasting among children 5 years and below,” the branch director added.
Golden Rice is the first genetically modified rice variety fortified with beta carotene, a source of vitamin A, which gives the grain its yellow or golden color.
Watch GMA Bicol Balitang Bicolandia coverage here: https://bit.ly/3nus0NA starts at 13:30-13:43.
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Catanduanes partners receive Golden Rice seeds
The Golden Rice Program, in partnership with DA-RFO 5 and the Local Government Unit of Catanduanes through the Provincial Agriculture Services Office, hosted the Golden Rice launch and handover of Seeds to the seed growers and farmers in Catanduanes on June 9, 2022.
Catanduanes Provincial Governor Joseph C. Cua said that the province of Catanduanes is truly honored and humbled for being chosen as the only province in Bicol to be selected for the pilot-scale deployment of Golden Rice.
“We recognize that programs like these are beneficial in making sure we are food-sufficient. With the same program, we know that it also addresses the issue of child malnutrition,” the governor added.
A media briefing for Catanduanes-based journalists immediately followed the ceremonial handover.
Read related article here: https://bit.ly/3a63X4j
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Radyo Veritas features Golden Rice deployment
In an episode of Radyo Veritas Legaspi’s “Dapat Agri, Agri Dapat,” hosts Ka-Agri Jason and Ka-Agri Rolly probed on the facts about the newly introduced Golden Rice. In an interview with Mr. Glenn de Peralta, Golden Rice coordinator for Bicol and Eastern Visayas on June 28, 2022, the episode highlighted the physical attributes, benefits, safety, and availability of Golden Rice.
Mr. de Peralta emphasized that unlike other rice varieties, Golden Rice contains beta carotene, an essential substance needed by the body to produce vitamin A. This contributes to the natural yellow color of its grains.
The DA-PhilRice and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are leading the deployment of Golden Rice in the Philippines, supported by affiliated government agencies and local government units or LGUs.
“Golden Rice will be planted first in the selected provinces that have high incidence of VAD in the country, as they are the primary beneficiary of this program,” de Peralta said.
Watch full radio interview here: https://bit.ly/3OVK273
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Agusan del Sur set to plant Golden Rice
DA-PhilRice Agusan Branch spearheaded a briefing and handover of Golden Rice seeds to the partner seed grower and farmer in Esperanza and Bayugan, Agusan del Sur on June 29, 2022.
Outgoing Mayor Leonida P. Manpatilan, incoming Mayor Deo “Bambi” P. Manpatilan Jr., and Mr. Ismael S. Saguran, Municipal Rice Coordinator expressed their support to Golden Rice as Agusan del Sur was chosen to pilot its deployment during the briefing led by Dr. Caesar Joventino Tado, Branch Director of PhilRice Agusan.
Golden Rice seed and grain orientation, MOA signing, and handover of seeds were also conducted on the same day. Mr. Jose Zaldy S. Manug, Municipal Agriculturist of Esperanza, Engr. Arturo C. Sularte, City Agriculturist of Bayugan, Mr. Allan Rey Garcia, City Rice Coordinator of Bayugan were also present during the activities.
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ANH Academy Week 2022 Side event: Creating Demand and Changing Behaviors for Scaling Up Nutrition Interventions: Case Studies from the Global South
IRRI will host a side event titled “Creating Demand and Changing Behaviors for Scaling Up Nutrition Interventions: Case Studies from the Global South” during the 7th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Academy Week (ANH2022) which will be held online on June 30, 2022, 11:45AM-12:45PM BST (GMT+1:00).
Dr. Ronan Zagado, Golden Rice Program lead at DA-PhilRice, will share insights on the role of communication and stakeholder engagement in the regulatory success and pilot deployment of Golden Rice.
You may log in/register here to attend via Zoom. Click here for more information.
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Golden Rice Regional News
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Golden Rice Program Updates as of June 2022
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FAQs feature of the month
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Golden Rice Briefing Materials
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