Economic Viability
Economic sustainability includes job creation, profitability, and proper accounting for cost-efficient systems. Here, we focus mainly on profitability and cost-efficient systems, although job creation should be considered as well. Nutrition greatly impacts the economy even more than one may think. Malnutrition limits labor productivity and, in turn, reduces income in many employee households. The lack of continued income in underprivileged homes can completely derail the lives individuals have attempted to create for themselves. As mentioned in the benefits section, Golden Rice is supposed to reach the market with a price lower than or the same as the price of traditional white rice; therefore, individuals are receiving more nutrients at the same cost. The cost-efficiency of Golden Rice may lead to a rise in home gardening, so households can plant their own rice to lessen purchasing costs. Read the following article for more information and consider the below questions.
Questions:
1. How might Golden Rice increase job availability in low-income communities?
2. Do you believe Golden Rice could improve the economy in communities? If so, how might community leaders tie in other aspects of the economy, including, but not limited to, fair housing laws, food stamps, and small businesses, to improve economical standings further?
cambridge.org ›
Environmental Protection
Environmental sustainability focuses on the overall well-being of the environment. Golden Rice has been fortified to easily preserve the traditional genes and characteristics of regular, unmodified rice. Although, the main environmental concern surrounding Golden Rice is the possibility of the plant contributing to the growth of superweeds or the modified product transferring genes to other natural plants. Researchers have yet to determine the likeliness of either occurring. Read the following articles for context and consider the below questions to form an opinion.
1. Google search the impact GMOs have on the spread of superweeds. After reading both the article and completing brief research of your own, do you think it is reasonable for scientists to worry about Golden Rice creating superweeds?
1. Previous attempts to control vitamin-A deficiencies by implementing other methods, like home gardening and supplements, was said to be ineffective, while this resource claims the money spent to create Golden Rice should’ve been spent on the preceding methods. Should the creators of Golden Rice have donated their money to support charities or community health programs rather than funding their company research?
2. This article claims Golden Rice is highly likely to contaminate traditional rice, as it is a GMO. Google search the likelihood a genetically modified organism could contaminate an organic crop. Based on your search results, do you think contamination is a reasonable argument?
3. There are few resources available detailing the environmental impacts of Golden Rice. Because of this, a vast majority of current resources are likely biased. After reading both resources – one from The Golden Rice Project, and the other from Greenpeace, an environmental campaigning organization, how do you feel about the possible environmental impacts of Golden Rice?
goldenrice.org ›
greenpeace.org ›
Social Equity
Social sustainability includes human health, resource availability, and education, among other social elements. Here, we focus on human health and resource availability. As we have learned, Golden Rice can greatly improve consumer health by supplying them with proper vitamin-A. Micronutrient deficiencies, like vitamin-A deficiency, plague over 800 million individuals worldwide. In various African and Southern Asian countries, micronutrient deficiencies are considered clinical, or extremely severe. African and Southern Asian countries were the target locations for Golden Rice consumption, contributing to a decrease in vitamin-A deficiencies over time. The introduction of Golden Rice to underprivileged communities increases vitamin-A availability as well. Read the following article for more information and consider the below questions.
Questions:
1. Do you believe an earlier approval of Golden Rice in Bangladesh would’ve reduced the amount of child deaths in 2019? If so, is this reason enough to advocate for quicker approval?
2. Do you think it may be difficult for communities to start using Golden Rice instead of white rice, as traditional rice is a staple food in many cultures? If so, what encouragement could be provided to said individuals to convince them their change is reasonable?
intechopen.com ›