According to the World Health Organization, dietary vitamin A deficiency (VAD) compromises the immune systems of approximately 40 percent of children under the age of five in the developing world, greatly increasing the risk of severe illnesses from common childhood infections, thus causing hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths among them (The Golden Rice Project). This golden rice could be an extremely positive step in the right direction for encouraging the use of GM seeds throughout the world as a way to not only promote its potential as a positive resource, but as a way to decrease the risk of severe illnesses and even preventing the deaths of countless individuals. .
Genetically modified crops could also provide increased yields that could allow increased food production as the world population continues to expand. Plants capable of growing under harsh temperatures, drought, or other natural conditions would be of instrumental importance in the event that climate change leaves key areas of the world less amenable to agriculture. Recently in 2012, Mid-western farms were plagued by severe droughts that created many difficulties and put strains on the agricultural industry. .
According to an article in Time: Science & Space, .
Nearly 60% of the U.S. was experiencing some form of drought–the most in more than half a century. Corn yields fell by at least 16%, and prices rose to record highs as farmers confronted fields of dust. Scariest of all, the drought of 2012, which could eventually cost as much as $18 billion, may be just a taste of what's to come in a hotter, drier future (Walsh). .
Many of these farmers who could afford to purchase GM drought-resistance seeds, did so in order to alleviate some of this strain. However, not everyone could afford this and had to make do with what they could afford. Other benefits of patented GM seeds include the ability to strengthen the resilience to insects and pests, and even vegetable based vaccines.