'A catastrophe': Greenpeace blocks planting of 'lifesaving' golden rice
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/25/greenpeace-blocks-planting-of-lifesaving-golden-rice-philippines‘A catastrophe’: Greenpeace blocks planting of ‘lifesaving’ golden rice
Thousands of children could die after court backs campaign group over GM crop in Philippines, scientists warn
Robin McKie, Science Editor
Sat 25 May 2024 09.00 EDT
Scientists have warned that a court decision to block the growing of the genetically modified (GM) crop golden rice in the Philippines could have catastrophic consequences. Tens of thousands of children could die in the wake of the ruling, they argue.
The Philippines had become the first country – in 2021 – to approve the commercial cultivation of golden rice, which was developed to combat vitamin-A deficiency, a major cause of disability and death among children in many parts of the world.
But campaigns by Greenpeace and local farmers last month persuaded the country’s court of appeal to overturn that approval and to revoke this. The groups had argued that golden rice had not been shown to be safe and the claim was backed by the court, a decision that was hailed as “a monumental win” by Greenpeace.
Many scientists, however, say there is no evidence that golden rice is in any way dangerous. More to the point, they argue that it is a lifesaver.
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= new reply since forum marked as read
The only good point they make is on seed ownership. Beyond that it's the usual dogma of small minds. Thinking hard. 
I believe the Phillippino diet is rich in fish, which is more abundant than meat.
I would have thought they got enough vitamin A from their fish.
But on the other hand, there aren't that many people living in the Philippines. Not all of them fish for their own food. My daughter-in-law is from Philippino roots (her parents were born there) and I've had their native traditional dishes several times. It's a lot like Japanese cuisine.
The oceans are so large and the islands of Philippines and Japan are so small, that I can't believe they could single-handedly cause an apocalypse of fish-replenishment. When the Japanese whalers target certain whale species, yes it's a problem.
However, I just realized I haven't taken my calcium supplement in weeks...ugh....
So, that's the problem with vitamins.
Rice is everywhere. Street food is popular. I really don't know how much sweet potatoes Filipinos eat. Rice has been cultivated in the Philippines since 2500 BC.
Sweet potatoes were introduced by the Spanish in the 16th century. (I'm not passing judgement on introduced foods) However a food that has been cultivated since 2500 BC in the Philippines, and in many places throughout the world is obviously is easy to grow, store and ship.
RIce is cultivated everywhere that it can grow. As long as there is standing water and warm weather, rice will grow. In the US, rice production is limited due to cold weather and need for standing water. In wet tropical climates, such as the Philippines, rice can be a perennial. Growers, simply cut back the stems after harvesting the seed heads and it grows backs.
In the US, rice is an annual and production is limited to standing water.
Last edited Mon May 27, 2024, 09:26 PM - Edit history (1)
Sweet potatoes are members of the morning glory family.
This is newest theory is that red is for Polynesian distribution. Purple is Spanish. Yellow is Portuguese.
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https://www.calacademy.org/explore-science/sweet-potato-travelers
To add to confusion, Yams (a monocot) were grown all over Asia and Hawaii prior to the Columbian exchange. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yam_(vegetable)#:~:text=Yams%20are%20perennial%20herbaceous%20vines,numerous%20cultivars%20and%20related%20species.
About purple yams:
Based on archaeological evidence of early farming plots and plant remains in the Kuk Swamp site, authors have suggested that it was first domesticated in the highlands of New Guinea from around 10,000 BP and spread into Island Southeast Asia via the Lapita culture at around c. 4,000 BP, along with D. nummularia and D. bulbifera. In turn, D. esculenta is believed to have been introduced by the Lapita culture into New Guinea. There is also evidence of an agricultural revolution during this period brought by innovations from contact with Austronesians, including the development of wet cultivation.[13][14]
However, much older remains identified as being probably D. alata have also been recovered from the Niah Caves of Borneo (Late Pleistocene) and the Ille Cave of Palawan (c. 11,000 BP), along with remains of the toxic ubi gadong (D. hispida) which requires processing before it can be edible. Although it doesn't prove cultivation, it does show that humans already had the knowledge to exploit starchy plants and that D. alata were native to Island Southeast Asia. Furthermore, it opens the question on whether D. alata is a true species or cultivated much older than believed.[4][15][16][17][18][19]
Purple yam remains an important crop in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines where the vividly purple variety is widely used in various traditional and modern desserts. It also remains important in Melanesia, where it is also grown for ceremonial purposes tied to the size of the tubers at harvest time. Its importance in eastern Polynesia and New Zealand, however, has waned after the introduction of other crops, most notably the sweet potato.[6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioscorea_alata
And much of this study was based on a Polynesian name for yams and sweet potatoes and what Capt Cook saw etc. Additionally, the only DNA sample used was damaged.
Whenever I look at "past" stuff like this, it is important to remember that much of it is theories. (Such has how Neanderthals looked, where eye color came from etc) These theories are fine and are fun, if they stay theories. They start crossing the line when they go beyond theories. The sweet potatoes in Hawaii theory is based on carbon datings. Cultivation in 19th century Hawaii suffered from rats, insects and disease.
The general theory is that sweet potatoes were dispersed throughout Polynesia, but I don't know if it went all the way to the Philippines. And it seems like it was more niche. Even if sweet potatoes made it all the way across the ocean, purple yams were what was cultivated until sweet potatoes were introduced. Purple yams are, which are warm season monocots (like rice) are tough and are suited to low-land tropics. Sweet potatoes tubers and regular potatoes are pickier.
Is zucchini native to Italy?
