The Philippines
November 5, 2024

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recently filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari with a request for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction (Petition) before the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision in the Writ of Kalikasan case concerning its development of Golden Rice, locally branded as Malusog Rice.

In its April 17, 2024 decision, which was later modified in its Aug. 15, 2024 decision, the CA ordered PhilRice to cease and desist from the commercial propagation activities of Malusog Rice.

In its Petition, PhilRice appeals to the Supreme Court for the reversal of the CA rulings and for the recall of the Writ of Kalikasan.

“Malusog Rice represents a transformative technology that can significantly benefit impoverished communities,” said Dr. Howarth Bouis, 2016 World Food Prize laureate and founding director of HarvestPlus.

According to Bouis, malnutrition remains a pressing issue, with half of preschool children in the poorest 20% of the population experiencing stunted growth, compared to one in eight among the wealthiest 20%. This disparity has persisted for over 15 years, affecting growth and learning potential among the nation’s children.

Golden Rice has passed rigorous safety assessments by international regulators, including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (February 2018), Health Canada (March 2018), the United States Food and Drug Administration (May 2018), and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (December 2019). In July 2021, the Philippines became the first country to approve Golden Rice for commercial propagation.

Studies show the enhanced nutritional profile and improved crop resilience of Golden Rice, which could help uplift Filipino farmers’ livelihoods and contribute to national food security.

Website: http://www.philrice.gov.ph

Published: November 5, 2024