Staple food crops can be genetically modified to produce higher amounts of micronutrients or
antigens as edible vaccines. Such new crop traits - enhancing the nutritional quality of the
food product or extending its function - are called value-added traits (VATs). VATs promise
nutritional and health benefits particularly for those vulnerable groups who suffer from
malnutrition and infectious diseases. This study deals with the topic and provides some
preliminary results. An analytical framework for ex ante evaluation of VATs in developing
countries (DCs) is developed and applied within a case study on Golden Rice (GR) in the
Philippines. The results of the case study show that GR has a potential to reduce significantly
vitamin A deficiency in the Philippines. Finally biotechnology particularly genetic
engineering has a potential to eliminate nutritional and infectious problems in DCs.
