Editorial
Genetically modified brinjal
A welcome feat by our scientists
THE news that a genetically modified pest-resistant variety of the staple vegetable crop, brinjal, has been created by Bangladeshi scientists is highly welcome. This is yet another instance that our scientists have achieved a feat in advanced research in the field of biotechnology related to agriculture.
Obviously, the research finding has its immense practical potentiality for our farmers who grow this popular vegetable crop.
As the director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) said, the GM brinjal, called Bt brinjal, has been created by inserting a particular gene from a soil-dwelling bacterium into the genome of brinjal plant. It is worthwhile to note that this bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, in short, Bt, is already in use as a biological pesticide.
So, armed with this borrowed gene, Bt brinjal will have the in-built capacity to fight its worst. It is believed that farmers will be able to save 50 to 70 per cent of this crop, which is usually destroyed by the pest without the use of chemical pesticides. Also, farmers as well as consumers of brinjal would be spared the hazardous impacts of the chemical pesticides on their health.
These are all about the sunny side of Bt brinjal. But there are also its adversaries among the pro-green, anti-GM crop lobbies, all of whose concerns may not be without foundation.
Finally, we are glad to learn that authorities would hold public consultations and judiciously weigh pros and cons before releasing Bt brinjal to farmers on a commercial scale.
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