Emma, a 38-year-old mother of eight from the Philippines, ekes out a living as a cleaning lady. Putting food on the table is a challenge that she and her husband face daily.
“We depend on rice every day, because it is filling,” said Emma. “Most of the time, however, we cannot afford fish, meat or vegetables. We only sprinkle salt or soy sauce to add some flavor or sometimes prepare as porridge. I know this lacks the important nutrients that will help make my children grow healthy, but what can I do? We have to fill our stomachs first.”
Many families around the world, just like Emma’s, consume only nutrient-poor staple foods because nutritious foods are either scarce, or unavailable, or too expensive. This contributes to hidden hunger—malnutrition caused by micro-nutrient deficiency. For example, insufficient vitamin A in the diet reduces the body’s ability to fight infections such as diarrhea and measles. It can also cause blindness and increases the risk of death. Vitamin A is particularly important in the diets of children and pregnant and lactating women.
The role of Golden Rice
Asia has one of the highest incidences of vitamin A deficiency in the world, affecting 33.5% of all preschool children. In 2009, the World Health Organization reported that more than 90 million children in Southeast Asia suffered from it, more than in any other region. Each year, it is estimated that 670,000 children under the age of five die because they are vitamin A-deficient, and another 350,000 go blind. This is where Golden Rice, a project being implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and partner organizations, has a role to play.
Golden Rice is unique because it contains beta carotene, which can be converted to vitamin A by the body as needed. According to research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2009, daily consumption of about a cup of Golden Rice will provide 50% of the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin A for an adult.
“We have been working on Golden Rice for about 10 years to develop a safe and effective way to address vitamin A deficiency, prevent blindness, and save lives,” said Gerard Barry, Golden Rice Network coordinator and IRRI’s Golden Rice project leader. “Our latest stage of work is now supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will bring in Helen Keller International (HKI), a new partner from the nutrition sector, to further understand how well Golden Rice can reduce vitamin A deficiency.”
By working together, these organizations can help Emma and her family lead happier, healthier lives.
Photo credit: Aileen Garcia, IRRI