The Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership aims to scale-up the adoption of genetically modified eggplant to enhance food and nutritional security in Bangladesh while protecting the health of farmers and the environment.

Eggplant, known locally as brinjal, is an extremely popular crop in Bangladesh. The vegetable is part of the daily diet for the 164 million Bangladeshis. An estimated 150,000 farmers grow eggplant in Bangladesh, and the crop is essential to food security in the country.

Since the 2013-2014 growing season when Bt eggplant first became available to farmers in Bangladesh, the enthusiasm for the crop has skyrocketed. Farmers are eager to adopt varieties that have been proven to protect them from excessive pesticide use and to earn more income. An estimated 65,800 farmers grew Bt eggplant in Bangladesh in the 2020-2021 growing season.

The Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership aims to accelerate benefits to Bangladeshi farmers while strengthening seed systems, enhancing adoption of stewardship practices, and increasing stakeholder knowledge of bioengineered crops.

map of Bangladesh partners

Our Objectives in Bangladesh

The Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership aims to accelerate benefits to farmers while strengthening seed systems, enhancing adoption of stewardship practices, and increasing stakeholder knowledge of bioengineered crops.

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Scale Up

Farmers are demanding Bt eggplant, and we want to be sure they get what they need. We are working to increase Bt eggplant adoption through the development of new, agronomically superior varieties that perform event better for farmers. These improved varieties will have better wilt resistance and wider adaptation to agroecological zones.

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Resiliency

Developing a more inclusive and responsive Bt eggplant value chain by enhancing stewardship, outreach, education, policy advocacy, and enforcement to safeguard Bt technology usefulness in Bangladesh

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Equitable benefits to women and youth

We are studying whether biotechnology products equitably benefit women, men and young people within households that adopt them in Bangladesh. 

Bt Eggplant by the numbers

A snapshot of our innovation ecosystem.

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Bt Eggplant Bangladesh News

BANGLADESH

Pesticide use in Bangladesh provides
a strong justification for Bt eggplant

Pesticides are the dominant control tactic for managing agricultural pests in Bangladesh and there was a 5-fold increase in the use of all agricultural pesticides (insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) between 1990 and 20101. In this same survey the use of insecticides increased more than 20-fold. This is especially troubling because insecticides…

Hands holding seedsNews
February 1, 2023

Philippines approves Bt eggplant for commercial cultivation

After 15 years of testing and safety trials, the Philippines has become the second country to allow farmers to grow eggplant varieties genetically modified to resist the devastating insect known…
Women gather outside and talk with a scientistNews
September 29, 2022

Bt eggplant nursery project to spur women’s empowerment in Bangladesh

Plant nurseries are a vital element of agriculture in Bangladesh. These small, often family-owned enterprises dedicated to fruit and vegetable sapling cultivation are an age-old income generation activity for farming…
Eggplant ImageNews
December 21, 2021

$10M project opens pathways for more pest resilient food options in Asia

A new Cornell-led project will accelerate the application of a proven biotechnology to enhance food and nutritional security in Bangladesh and the Philippines while protecting the health of farmers and…

Our Partners