Key figures in the caliber of Ingo Potrykhus have made alarming contributions in public health which have immensely impacted globalization and social change to the extent that remarkable shifts have occurred in the discipline both locally and in the international arena.
Major Contributions to Public Health
Ingo Potrykhus is significantly known for developing the golden rice project which is exclusive to the production of provitamin A. Also Ingo Potrykhus was very influential in organizing funding for the project and teamed up with Peter Beyer in launching a $2.6 million venture.
Challenges of implementation
The first major challenge was identifying the target countries for the gold rice projects especially, those which greatly relied on rice as their staple food. A subsequent challenge centered on implementation of a genetically modified product. Inadequate funding was the underlying set back.
Attempts of a resolution
Ingo Potrykhus managed to secure funding from the Rockefeller foundation. Thereafter, he headed a very successful project. The strategy applied was stressing necessity for the use of a contemporary variety of rice containing provitamin A.
Results
Ingo’s efforts became evident with the introduction of a scientific method employed in the transference of a group of genes instead of a single gene. This represents an essential aspect of a biochemical pathway entity. The golden rice project was redesigned to facilitate application by subsistence farmers eliminating a number of hurdles implied in the Genetically Modified species production.
Local Impact
Golden rice gained popularity among locals in Louisiana, USA where the first field trial was completed. Consequently, many farmers began utilizing the brand to enhance productivity as subsistence adjustment modes of farming were employed.
Global Impact
Golden rice production has since gained momentum internationally serving countries experiencing global food shortages and insidious malnutrition. In addition, 14 rice institutions were established in Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, China and Bangladesh.
Conclusion
Conclusively, Professor Ingo Potrykus has masterminded the internationally acclaimed golden rice project. This increased appreciation for rice production throughout the world as Genetically Modified rice crops were introduced. Since then there is greater acceptance of proper food safety measures in the manufacture of essential food products such as golden rice.
Abstract
With increasing concerns in public health as it relates to food security in different parts of the world, especially, developing countries, a number of operations have emerged in response to this perpetual demand for clarity initiating direction towards safe practices in food manufacture. Many of these developing countries were not equipped with resources to finance investigations. However, it was discovered that the underlying feature of all these innovations culminated in an expansion insidious of technological applications towards the end of the 20th and now 21st century. It encompassed implementing many different technological strategies designed by research groups led by key figures in the caliber of Ingo Potrykhus. The alarming consequences embraced distinct advancements in public health which have immensely impacted globalization and social change to the extent that remarkable shifts have occurred in the discipline both locally and in the international arena.
Introduction
Ingo Potrykus was born on December 5th, 1933 at Hirschberg/Schlesien, Germany. He was married in 1960; fathered three equally intelligent children and is a grand father of eight. Also, Potrykus resided in Hohenhelm where he attended University of Cologne and engaged himself conducting research in Zoology, Botany, Genetics, Biochemistry, Philosophy, and Physical Education. Distinct research teams investigating the unique culture of plant psychology at Max-Planck Institute for Plant Genetics were created by him. These interactive studies earned him his Doctorate. (Potrykus, 2001)
As the demand for his expertise grew immensely, in 1976 he was forced to relocate to Basel, Switzerland establishing a genetic engineering plant at the “Friedrich Miescher Institute.” Subsequently, in 1986 his quest for more knowledge led him to Zurich where he served as a full time professor in the plant sciences at ‘Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.’ (Potrykus, 2001)
This astute scientists earned many wards for his magnificent contributions to plant science internationally. These include KUMO (ISPMD) Science International Award in Plant Molecule Biotechnology 2000; American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Leadership in Science Public Service Award; CSSA President’s Award; European Culture Award in Science and Honorary Doctor, Swedish University of Agricultural Science.
Major Contributions to Public Health
Potrykus could be considered a plant biologist or more importantly an agriculturalist. However, his significant interest in food service technology and adaptability of golden rice as a major nutritional device has impacted public health immensely. The outcomes have addressed malnutrition in countries plagued with food shortages, but utilize rice as a staple in their diet.
Scientifically, the aim was two fold when viewed in terms of public health relevance. First it attempted to harness food safety through manufacturing processes and secondly create a nutritionally enhanced product in the form of golden rice.
The health scientology of golden rice lies in its genetic ability to perform as a nutrient. Golden rice manufacturing technology is embodied in a very simplistic principle. It is factual that ‘rice plants synthesize β-carotene in vegetative tissues, but not in the grain.’(Beyer et. al, 2002).
As such, alternative essential steps in the biosynthetic sequence must be embodied in the grain. Potrykus discovered that by adding just two genes, phytoene synthase (psy) and phytoene desaturase (crt I), reconstituted the sequence and β-carotene is produced with consequent accumulation in the endosperm, which is the edible part of the grain. ( Beyer et.al,2002). This explains the nutritional physiology of golden rice.
For this sequence to withstand manufacturing alterations Potrykus and his research team made it a public health responsibility for golden rice farmers. Also refining industries were held culpable for maintaining the nutritional content of the product not through synthetic applications, but by its natural state after being harvested.( Potrykus, 2001).
Potrykus became a team leader in improving food quality and yield stability not only in golden rice, but also wheat, manioc, and millets which are all nutritionally significant. However, his major contributions towards public health as a community intervention can be alluded to the golden rice project whereby an exclusive variety was produced, provitamin A.
Ultimately, this passion led into organizing funding and teaming up with Peter Beyer. Launching of a $2.6 million project for developmental research studies and implementation ensued.
Challenges of implementation
All inventors and their inventions encounter difficulties moving forward towards making their dreams a reality. Even though the ideas were clear, finding countries which would be willing to engage in this research became a difficulty to overcome. The ideal samples had to be communities which greatly relied on rice as a staple meal.
Then funding became an initial issue. For reformation to occur it does not only take repeated experiments to convince the public about usefulness of the intervention, but most importantly, educating them concerning new technology in gaining their cooperation.
Often it has been posited that ignorance is the greatest obstacle to civilization. Dissemination of pertinent information through media coverage and face to face interactions with the public required recruiting personnel to engage in such tasks. It did prove to be a people oriented undertaking. As such, these hurdles had to be surmounted with adequate funding and education.
Attempts of a resolution
Ingo Potrykus managed to organize funding from the Rockefeller foundation (Potrykus, 2001) and upon his retirement, took a huge step as mastermind of the project becoming president of the International Humanitarian Golden Rice Board where he could have devoted full attention towards the success of Golden Rice as a means of feeding the world with a nutritionally enhanced meal.
Strategically, as part of overcoming the other constraints such as identifying sample countries for the study and actually sensitizing the world on the benefits of golden rice, he tried gaining cooperation by stressing the use of a new variety of rice that provides provitamin A. Countries like the Philippines and Taiwan were eager to embrace the project. (Potrykus, 2001)
However, the first field trials were not conducted until 2004 by the Louisiana State University Agricultural center. In advancing the theme that golden rice is capable of resolving vitamin A deficiency, he was able to gain public recognition and acceptance of his project. It then made political sense to invest in this research.
Results
Further efforts at establishing golden rice as a nutritionally efficient product became very evident. It involved a scientific approach towards its manufacture ensuring that food safety techniques were relevant and did not defeat the original purpose. As such, complimentary field testing investigations became as vital as manufacturing the final product itself.
The whole idea was to maintain the biochemical pathway for the emergence and sustenance of the gene responsible for golden rice species. Field testing revealed with distinct accuracy, measurements of its nutritional status, which could not have otherwise been evaluated with such precision. Feeding tests were enabled. Primary results revealed that field-grown golden rice produced 4 to 5 times more beta-carotene than golden rice grown under greenhouse conditions. (Data et.al, 2007). Alarming, but true.
Since then research has been enforced to improve the bioavailability levels of not only pro-vitamin A, but also vitamin E, iron and zinc. Enactments have been enabled to also increase the protein quality by genetic adaptations. Even though these results are heartening, continually studies are being conducted to improve on growing demands; address issues envious critics raise about production and authority as a Vitamin A potentiality. (Beyer et.al, 2002)
Local Impact
Locally, golden rice has become a significant source of Vitamin A among Louisiana, USA residents, where the first field experiments were conducted. Consequently, many farmers have now added golden rice to their inventory as a subsistence farming strategy.
Even though Vitamin A deficiency has not been diagnosed a Public Health nuisance in America as many other developing and underdeveloped nations; it has still impacted public health circles. The difference is in sensitizing Americans as to purchasing the most nutritious rice available on the market. It is therefore, marketed as a public health prophylactic device.
Global Impact
It is no secret that golden rice manufacture and usage has gained momentum globally. The message of an improved rice staple containing nutrients grown organically, to control Vitamin A deficiencies that cause blindness among many other conditions have impacted the world. Fourteen rice institutions have since been established in countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, China and Bangladesh to grow and manufacture the product, golden rice. ( Potrykus, 2010 ).
Recent reports are that Helen Keller International Foundation, responsible for implementing global public health strategies has decided to team up with golden rice in their effort to offer the product around the world. Also, Rice Research Institutes are linking up with Golden Rice Networks in advancing the concept internationally.
Even though Golden Rice has not yet hit the global market, countries where projects have been established are already benefiting from control of Vitamin A deficiencies as Ingo Potrykus and his group work ardently to irradiate malnutrition through golden rice.
Conclusion
It is hoped that a public health discipline emerges to produce scientists in the caliber of Ingo Potrykus with similar scope for advancements, aimed at finding solutions to many ills that plague our twenty-first century societites. Surely, there are a wide range of issues, which do not only impinge on malnutrition, but a vast expanse of socially moral dilemma. These are all public health concerns too.
References
Beyer P, Al-Babili S, Ye X, Lucca P, Schaub P, Welsch R, Potrykus I (2002). Golden Rice.
Introducing the {beta}-Carotene Biosynthesis Pathway into Rice Endosperm by
Genetic Engineering to Defeat Vitamin A Deficiency. J. Nutr. Washington DC:
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Datta, S.K.; Datta, Karabi; Parkhi, Vilas; Rai, Mayank; Baisakh, Niranjan; Sahoo, Gayatri;
Rehana, Sayeda; Bandyopadhyay, Anindya et al. (2007). "Golden rice: introgression,
breeding, and field evaluation". Euphytica 154 (3): 271–278.
Lucca P, Hurrell R, Potrykus I (2002) Fighting Iron Deficiency Anemia with Iron-Rich Rice. J.
Am. Coll. Nutr 21 pp.184S-190
Potrykus, I (2001) Golden Rice and Beyond. Plant Physiology. New York: Amacom Publishing.
Potrykus, Ingo (2010). "Regulation must be revolutionized". Nature , 466 (7306), 561.
