Simon Maechling, PhD
@simonmaechling.bsky.social
Science. Innovation. Agriculture.
Innovator at Bayer Crop Science.
Innovator at Bayer Crop Science.
The value mentioned in the article (3µg/kg, or 0.003 mg/kg) is well below this detection limit and therefore insignificant.
October 19, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The value mentioned in the article (3µg/kg, or 0.003 mg/kg) is well below this detection limit and therefore insignificant.
Here is the link to the study: Impact of genetically modified Brinjal (Bt brinjal) on farmers’ income and production in Pabna District, Bangladesh. 12/ www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Impact of genetically modified Brinjal (Bt brinjal) on farmers’ income and production in Pabna District, Bangladesh
Approval of Bt brinjal cultivation represents a crucial step forward for Bangladesh in agricultural biotechnology. However, the scalability of Bt brinjal adoption faces barriers, mainly due to resi...
www.tandfonline.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Here is the link to the study: Impact of genetically modified Brinjal (Bt brinjal) on farmers’ income and production in Pabna District, Bangladesh. 12/ www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
This isn’t a promise.
It’s already happening.
Bt brinjal is one of the most successful real-world GMO case studies.
More countries should learn from Bangladesh.
🔁 Share this if you believe in science-based farming. 11/
It’s already happening.
Bt brinjal is one of the most successful real-world GMO case studies.
More countries should learn from Bangladesh.
🔁 Share this if you believe in science-based farming. 11/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
This isn’t a promise.
It’s already happening.
Bt brinjal is one of the most successful real-world GMO case studies.
More countries should learn from Bangladesh.
🔁 Share this if you believe in science-based farming. 11/
It’s already happening.
Bt brinjal is one of the most successful real-world GMO case studies.
More countries should learn from Bangladesh.
🔁 Share this if you believe in science-based farming. 11/
What if Europe allowed this too?
Instead of banning gene editing…
We could grow more with less and protect farmers.
And reduce our pesticide footprint.
But ideology still blocks innovation. 10/
Instead of banning gene editing…
We could grow more with less and protect farmers.
And reduce our pesticide footprint.
But ideology still blocks innovation. 10/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
What if Europe allowed this too?
Instead of banning gene editing…
We could grow more with less and protect farmers.
And reduce our pesticide footprint.
But ideology still blocks innovation. 10/
Instead of banning gene editing…
We could grow more with less and protect farmers.
And reduce our pesticide footprint.
But ideology still blocks innovation. 10/
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Bt brinjal in Bangladesh delivers:
✅ More yield.
✅ Less pesticide.
✅ More income.
✅ Fewer sprays.
✅ No trade-offs.
All thanks to a small genetic tweak. 9/
Bt brinjal in Bangladesh delivers:
✅ More yield.
✅ Less pesticide.
✅ More income.
✅ Fewer sprays.
✅ No trade-offs.
All thanks to a small genetic tweak. 9/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Bt brinjal in Bangladesh delivers:
✅ More yield.
✅ Less pesticide.
✅ More income.
✅ Fewer sprays.
✅ No trade-offs.
All thanks to a small genetic tweak. 9/
Bt brinjal in Bangladesh delivers:
✅ More yield.
✅ Less pesticide.
✅ More income.
✅ Fewer sprays.
✅ No trade-offs.
All thanks to a small genetic tweak. 9/
NO YIELD TRADE-OFF:
Critics often say GMOs trade off nutrition or quality.
But here, the market price of Bt brinjal was similar or slightly better.
No penalty. No rejection. Just better results. 8/
Critics often say GMOs trade off nutrition or quality.
But here, the market price of Bt brinjal was similar or slightly better.
No penalty. No rejection. Just better results. 8/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
NO YIELD TRADE-OFF:
Critics often say GMOs trade off nutrition or quality.
But here, the market price of Bt brinjal was similar or slightly better.
No penalty. No rejection. Just better results. 8/
Critics often say GMOs trade off nutrition or quality.
But here, the market price of Bt brinjal was similar or slightly better.
No penalty. No rejection. Just better results. 8/
INCOME: +69% HIGHER PROFIT
Bt brinjal farmers earned 90,708 BDT/ha.
Non-Bt farmers earned 53,217 BDT/ha.
That’s a $340 per hectare difference in local currency.
Big deal for smallholders. 7/
Bt brinjal farmers earned 90,708 BDT/ha.
Non-Bt farmers earned 53,217 BDT/ha.
That’s a $340 per hectare difference in local currency.
Big deal for smallholders. 7/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
INCOME: +69% HIGHER PROFIT
Bt brinjal farmers earned 90,708 BDT/ha.
Non-Bt farmers earned 53,217 BDT/ha.
That’s a $340 per hectare difference in local currency.
Big deal for smallholders. 7/
Bt brinjal farmers earned 90,708 BDT/ha.
Non-Bt farmers earned 53,217 BDT/ha.
That’s a $340 per hectare difference in local currency.
Big deal for smallholders. 7/
PESTICIDE: -40% LESS
Bt brinjal required far fewer insecticide sprays.
Why?
The plant already protects itself.
This means:
🟢 Lower costs.
🟢 Lower exposure. 6/
Bt brinjal required far fewer insecticide sprays.
Why?
The plant already protects itself.
This means:
🟢 Lower costs.
🟢 Lower exposure. 6/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
PESTICIDE: -40% LESS
Bt brinjal required far fewer insecticide sprays.
Why?
The plant already protects itself.
This means:
🟢 Lower costs.
🟢 Lower exposure. 6/
Bt brinjal required far fewer insecticide sprays.
Why?
The plant already protects itself.
This means:
🟢 Lower costs.
🟢 Lower exposure. 6/
YIELD: +43% MORE
Bt brinjal farmers harvested 19.67 tons/ha.
Non-Bt farmers got 13.75 tons/ha.
That’s a massive jump from just one trait change. 5/
Bt brinjal farmers harvested 19.67 tons/ha.
Non-Bt farmers got 13.75 tons/ha.
That’s a massive jump from just one trait change. 5/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
YIELD: +43% MORE
Bt brinjal farmers harvested 19.67 tons/ha.
Non-Bt farmers got 13.75 tons/ha.
That’s a massive jump from just one trait change. 5/
Bt brinjal farmers harvested 19.67 tons/ha.
Non-Bt farmers got 13.75 tons/ha.
That’s a massive jump from just one trait change. 5/
Study Design:
✔️ 300 farmers
✔️ 150 growing Bt brinjal
✔️ 150 growing non-Bt brinjal
✔️ Surveyed on yield, input costs, pesticide use, and profits. 4/
✔️ 300 farmers
✔️ 150 growing Bt brinjal
✔️ 150 growing non-Bt brinjal
✔️ Surveyed on yield, input costs, pesticide use, and profits. 4/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Study Design:
✔️ 300 farmers
✔️ 150 growing Bt brinjal
✔️ 150 growing non-Bt brinjal
✔️ Surveyed on yield, input costs, pesticide use, and profits. 4/
✔️ 300 farmers
✔️ 150 growing Bt brinjal
✔️ 150 growing non-Bt brinjal
✔️ Surveyed on yield, input costs, pesticide use, and profits. 4/
Enter: Bt brinjal This is a genetically modified eggplant.
It produces a natural protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills FSB. 3/
It produces a natural protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills FSB. 3/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Enter: Bt brinjal This is a genetically modified eggplant.
It produces a natural protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills FSB. 3/
It produces a natural protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills FSB. 3/
Location: Pabna District, Bangladesh.
Brinjal (eggplant) is a major crop here.
But pests like the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) cause major losses. 2/
Brinjal (eggplant) is a major crop here.
But pests like the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) cause major losses. 2/
October 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Location: Pabna District, Bangladesh.
Brinjal (eggplant) is a major crop here.
But pests like the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) cause major losses. 2/
Brinjal (eggplant) is a major crop here.
But pests like the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) cause major losses. 2/
Bottom line:
We need to power the future.
We need to feed the future.
That means embracing the tools that work.
☢️ Nuclear
🌽 GMOs
Science is not the enemy.
It’s our only way forward. 9/
We need to power the future.
We need to feed the future.
That means embracing the tools that work.
☢️ Nuclear
🌽 GMOs
Science is not the enemy.
It’s our only way forward. 9/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Bottom line:
We need to power the future.
We need to feed the future.
That means embracing the tools that work.
☢️ Nuclear
🌽 GMOs
Science is not the enemy.
It’s our only way forward. 9/
We need to power the future.
We need to feed the future.
That means embracing the tools that work.
☢️ Nuclear
🌽 GMOs
Science is not the enemy.
It’s our only way forward. 9/
The only thing standing in the way?
🚫 Outdated ideologies
🚫 Anti-science movements
🚫 Fear-based politics
The planet can’t afford that anymore. 8/
🚫 Outdated ideologies
🚫 Anti-science movements
🚫 Fear-based politics
The planet can’t afford that anymore. 8/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The only thing standing in the way?
🚫 Outdated ideologies
🚫 Anti-science movements
🚫 Fear-based politics
The planet can’t afford that anymore. 8/
🚫 Outdated ideologies
🚫 Anti-science movements
🚫 Fear-based politics
The planet can’t afford that anymore. 8/
We don’t need magical new solutions.
We already have:
✅ Clean, scalable power
✅ Precise, sustainable farming tools
They’re called nuclear and GMOs.
And they’re ready right now. 7/
We already have:
✅ Clean, scalable power
✅ Precise, sustainable farming tools
They’re called nuclear and GMOs.
And they’re ready right now. 7/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
We don’t need magical new solutions.
We already have:
✅ Clean, scalable power
✅ Precise, sustainable farming tools
They’re called nuclear and GMOs.
And they’re ready right now. 7/
We already have:
✅ Clean, scalable power
✅ Precise, sustainable farming tools
They’re called nuclear and GMOs.
And they’re ready right now. 7/
What are the real risks?
⚠️ Burning more coal and gas because we shut down nuclear.
⚠️ Plowing more forests and using more pesticides because we banned biotech.
We’re not avoiding danger.
We’re creating it — by rejecting innovation. 6/
⚠️ Burning more coal and gas because we shut down nuclear.
⚠️ Plowing more forests and using more pesticides because we banned biotech.
We’re not avoiding danger.
We’re creating it — by rejecting innovation. 6/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
What are the real risks?
⚠️ Burning more coal and gas because we shut down nuclear.
⚠️ Plowing more forests and using more pesticides because we banned biotech.
We’re not avoiding danger.
We’re creating it — by rejecting innovation. 6/
⚠️ Burning more coal and gas because we shut down nuclear.
⚠️ Plowing more forests and using more pesticides because we banned biotech.
We’re not avoiding danger.
We’re creating it — by rejecting innovation. 6/
Let’s get this straight:
☢️ Nuclear is not dangerous.
It has the lowest death rate per kWh of any energy source — including wind and solar.
🌽 GMOs are not risky.
After 30 years, thousands of studies, and billions of meals:
No proven health harms.
Only benefits. 5/
☢️ Nuclear is not dangerous.
It has the lowest death rate per kWh of any energy source — including wind and solar.
🌽 GMOs are not risky.
After 30 years, thousands of studies, and billions of meals:
No proven health harms.
Only benefits. 5/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Let’s get this straight:
☢️ Nuclear is not dangerous.
It has the lowest death rate per kWh of any energy source — including wind and solar.
🌽 GMOs are not risky.
After 30 years, thousands of studies, and billions of meals:
No proven health harms.
Only benefits. 5/
☢️ Nuclear is not dangerous.
It has the lowest death rate per kWh of any energy source — including wind and solar.
🌽 GMOs are not risky.
After 30 years, thousands of studies, and billions of meals:
No proven health harms.
Only benefits. 5/
Both nuclear and GMOs have been victims of the same script:
🔻 Decades of fear-mongering
🔻 Cherry-picked horror stories
🔻 “Natural is better” fallacies
🔻 Political paralysis
🔻 Activist lawsuits
The result?
We blocked the very technologies that could save lives. 4/
🔻 Decades of fear-mongering
🔻 Cherry-picked horror stories
🔻 “Natural is better” fallacies
🔻 Political paralysis
🔻 Activist lawsuits
The result?
We blocked the very technologies that could save lives. 4/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Both nuclear and GMOs have been victims of the same script:
🔻 Decades of fear-mongering
🔻 Cherry-picked horror stories
🔻 “Natural is better” fallacies
🔻 Political paralysis
🔻 Activist lawsuits
The result?
We blocked the very technologies that could save lives. 4/
🔻 Decades of fear-mongering
🔻 Cherry-picked horror stories
🔻 “Natural is better” fallacies
🔻 Political paralysis
🔻 Activist lawsuits
The result?
We blocked the very technologies that could save lives. 4/
Food demand is also rising fast.
We need to grow more food using less land, less water, and fewer resources.
GMOs help us do that.
But instead of celebrating them, we ban them —
While hunger, emissions, and prices rise. 3/
We need to grow more food using less land, less water, and fewer resources.
GMOs help us do that.
But instead of celebrating them, we ban them —
While hunger, emissions, and prices rise. 3/
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Food demand is also rising fast.
We need to grow more food using less land, less water, and fewer resources.
GMOs help us do that.
But instead of celebrating them, we ban them —
While hunger, emissions, and prices rise. 3/
We need to grow more food using less land, less water, and fewer resources.
GMOs help us do that.
But instead of celebrating them, we ban them —
While hunger, emissions, and prices rise. 3/