A BIOTECH eggplant variety can now be cultivated commercially in the Philippines, which help reduce or remove the use of pesticides by farmers to combat the dreaded eggplant plant and shoot borer (EFSB).

The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) has granted the biosafety permit for the commercial propagation of EFSB-resistant Bt Eggplant (Event EE-1) to the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) pursuant to the Joint Circular Order 1 issued by the DA, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.