對於發展中國家來說，金色大米的專利是free的，農民有了種子可以隨便種。

可以自行保留種子。

http://www.goldenrice.org/

Golden Rice will reach those who need it at no additional cost

Those who need the product of this new technology most are those who can least afford buying a mixed diet, rich in essential nutrients. This has been taken into consideration by the creators of Golden Rice technology, Professors Peter Beyer and Ingo Portrykus, and the crop protection company Syngenta, who have donated it for humanitarian use in developing countries, free of charge.

這是慈善活動曆史上一個有名的case，因為金大米的技術涉及多項專利，不少是商業公司擁有的，其發明者經過多方的磋商，讓那些公司同意把專利和金大米相關的使用權捐獻給發展中國家。