Bangladesh: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual

The Government of Bangladesh has demonstrated a willingness to adopt and implement a modern agricultural policy framework and guidelines which support the safe and appropriate use of science and technology, including biotechnology, to address the country’s food security concerns. With innovative biotechnology support from the world’s scientific community, Bangladesh is seeking to play a role in the advancement of modern biotechnology research and trials of new genetically engineered (GE) varieties of essential trait-based crops, such as rice, potato, brinjal (eggplant), tomato, wheat, and cotton. GE research on various rice traits is widening with an aim to develop climate smart varieties, essential for the Bangladesh rice sector. However, the regulatory process for biotechnology in Bangladesh is at times inefficient, with major delays in the approval process of certain GE varieties. Bangladesh’s research and development of animal and microbial biotechnology continues to be limited.