For technical reasons the Golden Rice versions donated for humanitarian use were in North American varieties of the javanica type. GR1 was generated in a variety called Cocodrie. Louisiana State University has given a free licence to use this protected variety as a progenitor for introgression of the Golden trait into Asian varieties. GR2 was generated in the variety Kaybonnet. Selected transgenic events of GR1 and GR2 containing the Golden trait in Cocodrie are now being introgressed into Asian varieties in the Philippines and in India.

One full round of introgression takes about two years in the tropical conditions of those countries. After four to six rounds of backcrossing the local parental line is fully recovered, with the only difference that it is now capable of producing and accumulating beta-carotene (provitamin A). Once Golden Rice has been introduced and finds a good level of acceptance by farmers and consumers, as may locally adapted varieties as desired can be produced in this way.