Summary: <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkingbiotechpodcast.com%2F195-bt-brinjal-in-bangladesh%2F&via=talkingbiotech" class="twitter-share-button" data-size="large">Tweet</a><br> <a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/195-Hossain-Cover.jpg"></a><br> Bangladesh is a population dense country with relatively little farmland. Subsistence farmers make a living by growing, harvesting and selling brinjal, or the fruit westerners know as the eggplant. The biggest threat to production is the fruit and shoot borer, an insect larvae that digs into the fruit, leaving its waste, and inviting pathogens and decay. To combat this, farmers traditionally use massive amounts of insecticides, upward of 80-100 sprays per season. It is their family’s livelihood, so sprays protect the crop, and protect the family. The Bt brinjal is genetically engineered to produce a natural protein that stops the fruit and shoot borer. The plants need minimal spray application and are more profitable for growers. Today co-hosts Modesta Abugu and Kevin Folta speak with Arif Hossein, leader of Farm the Future Bangladesh about the brinjal and its adoption by Bagladesh farmers.<br> Farm the Future Bangladesh Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FarmingFutureBD/">Farming Future Bangladesh</a><br> Follow him on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FarmingFutureBD">@FarmingFutureBD</a><br> <br>
