A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is

Bt-brinjal is a genetically modified variety of eggplant developed to provide resistance against the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (EFSB), a highly destructive pest. The technology involves inserting the cry1Ac gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into the plant's genome. This gene enables the plant to produce insecticidal crystal proteins that are toxic to lepidopteran insects like the EFSB larvae. While traditional chemical sprays are often ineffective once larvae bore into the fruit, Bt-brinjal provides built-in protection, significantly reducing the need for synthetic pesticides [3]. Although it has been commercially cultivated in Bangladesh since 2013 with success, India has maintained a moratorium on its commercial release since 2010 due to environmental and health concerns raised by civil society [2]. The primary objective remains pest resistance rather than improving nutrition, shelf-life, or drought tolerance.

Sources

1. [3] https://www.fda.gov/media/167166/download
2. [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 9.16 Indian Economy > p. 302