Exploration of the Biopolitics of GMOs: Using Golden Rice as an Analytical Model

Several disputes exist around Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). This article uses the concept of biopolitics to refer to all the GMO-related political issues and the mechanisms that are used to handle them. As a world famous genetically modified crop developed for the welfare of humanity by public institutions, Golden Rice has on one hand won glories, whereas on the other met with criticisms. It could be used as an analytical model to illustrate the biopolitics of GMOs. On the basis of an overview of its technological background, this article first introduces the participants and the debated issues of the Golden Rice project and then the disputes between the supporters and opponents and consequently analyzes the biopolitics of the Golden Rice. In conclusion, this article justifies the biopolitics of the GMOs and its doctrine.