GMO Rice

Earlier this evening, I watched an Episode of Convergence on Net25. They highlighted the current work done at IRRI Los Banos where they are trying to improve the yield of rice. With respect to carbon fixation, or the ability to take CO2 and convert it to carbohydrates, rice (C3 crop) is said to be less efficient compared to Corn or Sorghum (C4 crops). This is because of the physical structure of the leaves of C4 crops that allow more sunlight into the process. The scientists at IRRI, funded by leading charities like the Bill and Melinda Gates foundations, are working on how to modify the genetic properties of rice so it will enable C4 photosynthesis. In other words, this is a GMO project. The question is whether the genetic engineering will trigger malevolent side effects in the physiology of man and other organisms that consume the rice. Will the benefits of higher rice yields outweigh the costs resulting from genetic manipulation? Have we reached the limits of developing our agricultural technology and engineering such that we have to resort to genetic engineering? Interesting questions that require convincing answers.