Eggplant Production in the Philippines
Eggplant is one of the world’s most important vegetables and a staple in some South and Southeast Asian countries. In the Philippines, eggplant or talong is the leading vegetable crop in terms of volume (248,000 metric tons) and area of production (14,000 hectares) based on the 2022 Philippine Statistics Authority report. Eggplant farming also offers huge income potential for resource-poor farmers in many provinces in the country.
For years, eggplant production in the Philippines suffered huge losses of up to 73% annually due to its most devastating insect pest, the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB).
The female moths of EFSB usually deposit eggs on the underside of the leaves which then develop into larvae. These larvae feed on soft leaf tissues and tunnels through emerging shoots and immature fruits.
To prevent severe losses due to EFSB infestation and damage, farmers spray their eggplant crops with cocktails of chemical insecticides at least 4 times a week, or up to 80 times per cropping season. According to studies, eggplant farmers spend 20-40% of the total production cost for chemical insecticides alone. This practice is costly, unsustainable, and harmful to farmers and their communities, consumers, and the environment.
The Bt Eggplant Project of UPLB
At present, no existing commercial eggplant varieties with high resistance to EFSB are available in the Philippines, and EFSB resistance is difficult to develop using conventional plant breeding.
To help farmers in fighting EFSB and to address insecticide misuse and overuse for EFSB management, researchers from the Institute of Plant Breeding at the College of Agriculture and Food Science in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-CAFS-UPLB) used modern biotechnology to develop an eggplant variety resistant the feeding damage of EFSB.
FSB-resistant (FSBR) eggplant is an insect-resistant eggplant developed through genetic engineering. Also called Bt eggplant or Bt talong, it contains a natural protein from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that makes it resistant to EFSB. The Bt protein in Bt eggplant only affects EFSB and is proven safe for humans, farm animals, and non-target insects. By using biotechnology to introduce FSB resistance in eggplant, farmers will benefit from high yields of good quality fruits. Reduction in pesticide use will also translate to higher net profits for eggplant farmers.
For more information about Bt eggplant, download and read the Questions and Answers about the Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant Eggplant.
For more information about Bt eggplant, visit the Frequently Asked Questions tab, refer to the Bt Eggplant Resources, or Contact Us through our various communication lines.
