The developing world can benefit from advances in biotechnology, but much needs to be done to make bio-engineered products available in forms that farmers can use. The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) believes that farmers and consumers worldwide should have the opportunity to make informed choices about using bio-engineered products. ABSPII focuses on the safe and effective development and commercialization of bio-engineered crops as a complement to traditional and organic agricultural approaches in developing countries. The project helps boost food security, economic growth, nutrition and environmental quality in East and West Africa, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Philippines. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by Cornell University, ABSPII is a consortium of public and private sector institutions.

The consortium develops innovative, pragmatic solutions, building on the successes of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP) that was led for over a decade by Michigan State University.

In South Asia (India and Bangladesh), ABSPII supports development of expertise in the areas of research, policy development, licensing and outreach to help reduce poverty and hunger through agricultural biotechnology. Current initiatives relate to development of Tobacco Streak Virus Resistant (TSVR) Groundnut, Late Blight Resistant (LBR) Potato, Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant (FSBR) Eggplant, Drought Tolerant Rice and Salinity Tolerant Rice.

For more information visit: http://www.absp2.cornell.edu/