Many people in developing countries battle against vitamin A deficiency due to an imbalanced diet including limited access to fresh fruit, vegetables and animal products. Persistent deficiency in this vital nutrient can result in blindness, illness and even death. Children are particularly vulnerable. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of childhood blindness and increases the risk of death from com - mon childhood infections. Golden rice differs from standard rice in that it contains extra genes. These were added through genetic modification and ensure the production of provitamin A in the rice grains. Provitamin A colors the grains yellow-orange, hence the name ‘Golden Rice’. Once absorbed into the body, provitamin A is converted into vita - min A. Provitamin A is found in many fruits and vegetables; it is also what makes carrots orange, for example. The Golden Rice nutritional trait was subsequently crossed into popular local rice varieties, using conventional breeding methods. These new rice varieties are currently being assessed in field trials across Asia. Despite the developers’ humanitarian motives behind Golden Rice, debate rages about these genetically modified (GM) crops, and as yet it remains unclear when Golden Rice shall come on the market.