Advancing the adoption of RNA interference-based biopesticides

RNA interference (RNAi)-based biopesticides use a natural cellular mechanism to specifically silence genes essential for pest or pathogen fitness, offering a targeted and potentially safer alternative to conventional chemical sprays. The recent registration of the first products targeting Colorado potato beetle and varroa mite marks the transition of this technology from proof of concept to practical reality. With technical feasibility established, attention is shifting to the drivers determining adoption into pest management strategies. The potential for uptake by farmers can be framed within a decision-making process that weighs the choice to deploy this new tool against a backdrop of environmental concerns, widespread pesticide resistance and increasing regulatory restrictions related to conventional synthetic chemistries. Shifting dynamics have influenced the return-on-investment proposition, where agricultural utility (safe and reliable efficacy against pests and pathogens), regulatory reality (barriers to availability) and social licence (public perception and acceptance of novel biotechnologies) act as the levers shifting the cost-benefit ratio of RNAi-based biopesticides relative to conventional options. Advancements in bioinformatics-driven double-stranded RNA design, risk assessment and delivery systems position RNAi-based biopesticides as an alternative to fill the market gap created by the withdrawal of conventional chemistries. However, widespread adoption must navigate fragmented international regulatory harmonization and the challenges of developing a social licence to operate, specifically regarding public perceptions of safety, residues and the use of novel biotechnology tools.