BSS, Dhaka :
Visiting Director General of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Dr Shenggen Fan today suggested Bangladesh using Genetically Modified (GM) crops and biotechnology to produce more food considering future demand.
“There is a misconception that GM crops benefit the multinational companies, but country like Bangladesh with huge food demand can be benefited by producing GM crops considering its high production rate,” He said at a press conference at a city hotel here.
He said the adoption of GM crops like Bt Brinjal can help reduce pesticide in agriculture of Bangladesh.
IFPRI organised the press conference ahead of its workshop on ‘Evidence-Based Policy Options for Food and Nutrition Security in Bangladesh’ at Sonargaon Hotel on Tuesday.
On favour of using GM crops, the IFPRI chief said “In the future, we need to feed nine billion people. Use of Biotechnology along with the traditional technology in agriculture will help increasing food production, so, we invite so many people, so many countries, to adopt the technology. About the biotechnology, specifically genetically modified (GM) crops, Dr Fan said many countries like China and the USA have been using biotechnology in agriculture and have achieved progress in food production.
Replying to a query on risk of producing GM crops, he said there is no fair evidence that GM crops pose negative impacts on animal health.
Lauding Bangladesh achievements in agriculture sector, Dr Shenggen Fan said Bangladesh made tremendous success in agriculture as the country’s food production was increased three folds from its independence to till date and the income of famers is increased three times in last one decade.
