Building Resilience: A Decade of Bt Eggplant’s Impact on Bangladesh
In 2014, Bangladesh became the first nation in South Asia to embrace the commercial cultivation of genetically engineered food crops. With the approval of four varieties of Bt eggplant, a…
Empowering Bangladesh’s Farmers: Groundbreaking Partnership to Boost Eggplant Agriculture and Private Sector Engagement
In a significant stride toward sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh, a newly announced partnership aims to introduce new pest-resistant and disease-tolerant eggplant hybrid varieties that foster enhanced food security while safeguarding…
Farmers voice support for commercial release of Bt eggplant in the Philippines
Farmers in Tiaong, Quezon, expressed their support for the commercial release of Bt eggplant at the first-ever gathering of the Bt Eggplant Project in the Philippines, Feed the Future-Insect Resistant…
In her rural village in Bangladesh, Moushumi Akhter provides childcare for neighborhood kids out of her small stone home. While it does not bring much in the way of income…
The profitability of planting transgenic eggplants
Eggplant is the top vegetable grown in the Philippines, but farmers routinely lose more than 50% of their produce to insects. Bt eggplant could be a game-changer for those farmers.
BARI Recognized with ‘Foodfluencer of the Year’ Award for Bt Brinjal Innovation
Over a decade ago, Bangladesh made a groundbreaking decision to approve its first biotech-derived vegetable crop, Bt brinjal, paving the way for advancements in agricultural science. The Bangladesh Agricultural Research…
New FAO book highlights Bt eggplant success for smallholder farmers in Bangladesh
Agricultural biotechnologies deployed around the world are transforming food systems to produce more nutritious food with less environmental impact, with positive impacts for smallholder farmers in low-income countries. Bt eggplant…
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…
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…
Pesticide use in the Philippines provides a strong justification for Bt eggplant
Pesticide poisoning has been an increasing problem in the Philippines, and vegetable farmers are exposed to pesticides to a far greater extent than rice or maize growers because of the…
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…
$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…
The app ‘BtBegun’ provides lifeline for eggplant farmers in Bangladesh
A new app co-developed by Cornell researchers is expected to streamline information-sharing, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, for farmers growing one of the most important crops for food security…
Study: Bt eggplant wins market and farmer acceptance in Bangladesh
Farmers have achieved significantly higher yields and revenues by growing genetically engineered, insect-resistant eggplant (Bt brinjal), which has gained market acceptance in Bangladesh, a new study reported.
Bt eggplant in Bangladesh: Public sector paved the path for success, time now for private sector to step-in!
Historically, private sector companies have been dominating the development, introduction, distribution and growth of biotech crop market around the world.
Globally the seed industry is undergoing significant transformation due to rapid strides made in trait development, trait convergence, and smarter reach of products to growers and application of information analytics…
A new study confirms that genetically modified pest-resistant eggplant (Bt brinjal) has successfully reduced pesticide use and improved livelihoods among the Bangladeshi farmers who grow it.
Bt Brinjal farmers of Bangladesh reaping surplus benefits from the technology
Abdul Hossain, a brinjal growing farmer from Rangpur district of Bangladesh, is into his second year of enjoying the benefits from the cultivation of Bt brinjal in his one-fourth acre…
US Ambassador to Bangladesh tours Bt brinjal field
The US Ambassador to Bangladesh congratulated the nation on moving forward with genetically modified food crops after viewing a demonstration plot growing pest-resistant Bt brinjal (eggplant).
Stewardship Efforts through Capacity Building Initiatives for Seed Quality Testing
After the successful release of four varieties of Bt eggplant in 2013, adoption rate of the technology among Bangladeshi farmers has increased steadfastly – from 20 farmers in 2013-14 to…
Policy support, effective stewardship and communication are essential for adopting of agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries
“Political will, policy support, effective stewardship and communication are key to the successful and sustainable adoption of agricultural biotechnology in developing countries,” said Vijay Paranjape, stewardship coordinator of the Feed…
After its approval in 2013, the number of farmers adopting Bt eggplant in Bangladesh is steadily increasing, from 20 farmers in 2013-14 to 6500 in 2016-17 and is likely to…
Experts emphasize stewardship and science-based communications for the development of genetically engineered crops in Bangladesh
Biotechnology and communication experts from international and national research institutes, universities, government and development organisations emphasized the importance of stewardship and coordinated communication about research and development related to genetically…
Workshop on Bt eggplant brings researchers and journalists together
Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and Feed the Future South Asia Eggplant Improvement Partnership jointly organized a day-long workshop on “Bt Eggplant Research and Development” that brought together representatives from…
Philippines field research shows no negative impacts from Bt eggplant on non-target arthropods
The first-ever field level study of the effects of insect-resistant genetically modified Bt eggplants on non-target arthropod species, carried out in the Philippines by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los…
The government will continue plans allowing Genetically Modified (GM) crop cultivation, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told a discussion yesterday on rice production in Asia and food security in Bangladesh.
Bt eggplant close to 100% effective in controlling pests, shows new paper
The genetically modified eggplant known as 'Bt brinjal' provides dramatic control of its most serious insect pest in Asia and eliminates the need for insecticides, according to results just published by scientists in…
Scientists and specialists meet Bt brinjal farmers and researchers in Bangladesh
“There is no substitute for seeing crop production on the ground in-country when you are trying to evaluate a project,” said Joe Huesing, senior biotechnology advisor with USDA-ARS/USAID.
In 2013 Bangladesh commercialised Bt eggplant, becoming the first developing country in the world to take a public sector genetically modified food crop to benefit smallholder farmers.
$4.8 million USAID grant to strengthen biotechnology partnership and improve food security in South Asia
To strengthen capacity to develop and disseminate genetically engineered eggplant in Bangladesh and the Philippines, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded Cornell a $4.8 million, three-year grant.
Filipino farmer leaders learn from Bt brinjal farmers in Bangladesh
Filipino farmer leaders from Pangasinan, Isabela, Butuan, Bukidnon, and Maguindanao recently participated in a two-day study visit to Bt brinjal (eggplant) farms in Bangladesh last February 23 to 26, 2016.
Director of General of BARI remarks about Bt Brinjal
Brinjal is a very popular vegetable which is grown year round all over Bangladesh. The brinjal shoot and fruit borer is the key pest of brinjal in this country.