Feed the Future Eggplant Improvement Partnership Progress Report: Year 1, Second Quarter

The project began in October 2015 and has made significant progress in its first year, particularly in the second quarter (January-March 2016). One of the key highlights of the project is the development of a website (bteggplant.cornell.edu) that serves as the public face of the project. The website was launched in early March 2016 and has been well-received for its organization, appearance, and content. It is regularly updated with a blog, new pictures, and new articles. The project has also utilized the project management tool, Smartsheet, to organize and track activities and provide timely reports. Additionally, the project has appointed Dr. Karen Hokanson as the Regulatory Affairs Coordinator, effective May 1, 2016. Dr. Hokanson has expertise in regulatory affairs and will provide valuable support to the project in Bangladesh and the Philippines. In Bangladesh, the project has made significant progress in the field trials of Bt eggplant. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) visited Bogra in March 2016 and observed the trials, which showed excellent results. The trials are expected to be ready for harvesting in May 2016, and a report will be written. The project also plans to publish the results of the pesticide reduction with Bt eggplant in Bangladesh in international peer-reviewed journals. In the Philippines, the project has submitted two papers for publication in PLoS One in March 2016. The first paper, a 3-season study on the expression level of Cry1Ac and the efficacy of OP Bt-lines, was accepted in April 2016 pending minor revisions. The second paper, effects of OP Bt-lines on non-target organisms in the field, is still under review. The studies represent the first series of publicly available data on Bt eggplant anywhere and will serve as the foundation for future studies in the Philippines and elsewhere. The project also organized a tour to Bangladesh by Philippine farmers, which was a success and illustrates the synergy of the countries within the project. However, the project faces challenges, including changes in regulations in the Philippines, which will affect the regulatory submission package. The appointment of Dr. Hokanson as the Regulatory Affairs Coordinator will ensure that the project is well-prepared to make such a submission. The project team welcomes Dr. Hokanson to fill the much-needed gap as a regulatory affairs coordinator and appreciates the support of the Minister of Agriculture of Bangladesh in emphasizing the need for stewardship in all phases of the project. The team takes pride in its accomplishments to date and looks forward to continuing its work in Bangladesh and the Philippines.