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Biography |
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Frank Shotkoski, PhD is a senior level biotechnology project management and business development professional specializing in product development and commercialization of genetically engineered trait-based crop products. His expertise stems from over 20 years of academic and industrial experience in both medical and agricultural biotechnology. Frank earned his PhD in Entomology from the University of Minnesota in 1992 and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska in 1988 and 1984, respectively. He has received additional training in numerous professional project management and business development programs. He is the author of many refereed publications; numerous patents, abstracts and several book chapters. Currently, Frank Shotkoski is the Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) at Cornell University where he directs a USAID funded project with a mandate to commercialize genetically engineered crops for developing countries in Africa and Asia. Before joining Cornell University in 2005, Frank worked as the Global Cotton Traits Technical Manager with Novartis and later Syngenta from 1998-2004 where he built a cotton biotechnology program that resulted in the development of trait-based product using the insecticidal protein Vip3A. Prior to joining Syngenta, Frank held the positions of Research Associate and Research Fellow at the University of Washington’s Department of Medical Genetics where his research involved developing gene-based therapies for treatment of patients with hematopoietic diseases.
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Abstract |
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Bt Eggplant: Commercial Success in Bangladesh |
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The Cornell University-lead Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSP-II) facilitated the transfer of Bt eggplant event EE-1 from the Indian seed company Mahyco to the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). BARI introgressed the Bt technology from event EE-1 into nine locally adapted and commercially popular eggplant varieties in Bangladesh. The Bt varieties underwent seven years of field trials and greenhouse testing under various environmental and geographic locations in Bangladesh prior to consideration for commercial release. In October 2013, four Bt eggplant varieties were approved for commercial cultivation to become the first country in the world to approve commercial planting of Bt eggplant. I will present data on the efficacy of the technology against the eggplant fruit and shoot borer and yield performance under field conditions. I also discuss the socio-economic impacts of the technology on the livelihood of early adopter farmers. An update will be provided on the status of deregulation and approval for propagation of Bt eggplant in India and the Philippines. |
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