The Political Economy of Golden Rice in the Philippines : Deconstructing the Stakeholders' Narratives

Abstract

This study examines the construction of narratives and power relationships among stakeholders in a sociopolitical arena through the case of Golden Rice. Golden Rice is a genetically engineered crop, biofortified with beta-carotene (the precursor to Vitamin A) with the humanitarian objective to reduce Vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It is a controversial topic among genetically modified organism (GMO) enthusiasts and opponents because of its humanitarian goal to feed the poor (“pro-poor biotechnology"). Biotechnological innovations to produce beneficial crops cannot be divorced from the skepticism and criticism that have surfaced. The Philippines has been distinguished for its suitability to the crop. With the recent emergence of international safety approvals for Golden Rice, the question of its commercialization in the Philippines is gaining momentum. Existing literature has predominantly analyzed technical aspects but has not adequately addressed the discourses within the debate: pro-Golden Rice (defined as the hegemony), contra-Golden Rice (defined as the counter-hegemony), and more so, those in the middle-ground. This study aims to shed new light by deconstructing stakeholder narratives, using critical discourse analysis (CDA) to contribute an enhanced understanding on the creation, dissemination, and modification of the surrounding discourses affecting the behaviors toward Golden Rice in the Philippines.