G/SPS/GEN/1805  
 
2 July 2020 
(20-4589) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  TO BT EGGPLANT (BRI NJAL) PROJECT IN BAN GLADESH  
SUBMISSION  BY THE UNITED STATES  
The following document , received on 26 June 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United Sta tes. 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.1.  The United States is  pleased to share with the Committee today background on a technical 
assistance project involving genetically engineered eggplant in Bangladesh and the results of two 
project assessment studies conducted by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFP RI) and 
Cornell University.  
1.2.  While eggplant is a popular in -country food staple, Bangladesh has traditionally experienced 
low production due to pests and disease, in particular the fruit -and-shoot borer.  
1.3.  The United States, as part of its "Feed the Future " initiative in Bangladesh, has supported the 
development, commercialization, and release of eggplant genetically engineered to be resistant to 
the fruit -and-shoot borer.  
1.4.  This project was a collaborative effort of the United States Agency for International 
Development (USAID), Cornell University (an American University), MAHYCO (a private sector Indian 
company) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).  
1.5.  The biotech trait was donated royalty -free by MAHYCO and farmers may save their seeds from  
year-to-year. 
1.6.  Since the eggplant was first released to 120 farmers in 2014, the number of farmers planting 
the pest -resistant eggplant has steadily increased to 34,500 in 2018, the majority of which are 
smallholder farmers.  
1.7.  To understand how this technol ogy has impacted the lives of Bangladesh farmers, IFPRI 
performed a randomized controlled trial study which included 1,200 smallholder farmers in 
200 different villages. On average, the farmers in the study cultivated less than one hectare of land.  
1.8.  The stu dy showed that growing these Bt eggplant varieties resulted in:  
▪ 95% reduction in fruit -and-shoot borer infestation;  
▪ 56% reduction in pesticide usage (controlling for pesticide toxicity);  
▪ 10% reduction in adverse health effects associated with pesticide exposure among 
household members;  
▪ 42% increase in yields;  
▪ US$400 increase in profits per hectare; and,  
▪ Lower levels of infestations from other beetles, aphids, mites, and other pests in 
Bt eggplant.  
 G/SPS/GEN/1805  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.9.  Extrapolated to the national level, these results imply that the cultivation of Bt eggplant could 
prevent the application of over 230,000 liters of pesticides nationwide, save farmers over 
US$2.7  million in pesticide costs, and increase farmers ' incomes by over US$14 million.  
1.10.   A 2020 Cornell University study on approximately 400 farmers across five districts also 
confirms the economic benefit of growing Bt eggplant.  The study found that the Bt varieties provided, 
on average, a 2 0% increase in yield  and a 2 2% increase in revenue, translating to about US$664 of 
additional revenue per hectare.  
1.11.   The study also found that farmers who cultivated the Bt eggplant varieties were more likely 
to be satisfied with their yields (8 3%) compared to the farmers who c ultivated non -Bt varieties 
(59%). 
1.12.   Additionally, farmers who are not yet aware of Bt varieties are willing to plant them if the 
benefits of these innovative products are properly communicated.  The study found that 7 1% of 
farmers who were previously unaware of Bt varieties planned to use them in the next planting season 
after hearing about the benefits they provide.  
1.13.   The United States believes that this project demonstrates how technical assistance can be 
used to enable access to innovations that protect huma n health, protect the environment, improve 
food security, and lift farmers out of poverty.  
1.14.   Indeed, the analys es by IFPRI and Cornell University on Bt eggplant are consistent with the 
scientific literature on the impact of use of genetically engineered (GE)  products.  
1.15.   A 2014 meta -analysis conducted by German scientists1 of 147 original studies found robust 
evidence of GE crop benefits for farmers in developing and developed countries:  a 37% average 
decline in chemical pesticide use, a 2 2% average increase in crop yield , and a 6 8% increase in 
farmer profit.  
1.16.   We congratulate Bangladesh on the success of Bt eggplant and look forward to future 
collaborations between governments, non -profits, and the private sector.  
 
__________  
 
1 Klümper W, Qaim M (2014) A Meta -Analysis of the Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops. PLoS ONE 
9(11): e111629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111629 .