Development of innovative pesticide formulations with new modes of action is an important priority for the food and agriculture industry given the rise of resistance to common chemical pesticides and society’s demand for safer and more sustainable options for growing food.  RNAi (RNA interference) as a technology is extremely targeted and safe for both humans and the environment. RNAi’s highly-specific nature means that it impacts only the targeted species without harming beneficial organisms like pollinators. Since 1998, dsRNA has been widely used as a tool, in both academia and industry, to study and identify genes that are key in the development of pests and weeds or in the pathogenicity of different fungi. dsRNA has proven, in lab experiments, its potential as a foliar applied pesticide. However, even today, after more than 20 years of research, there is still not a single formulated product available in the market. Two main reasons for this are 1) the cost of producing dsRNA at industrial scale and 2) the design and development of a formulated product that could overcome many of the challenges linked to a biological molecule such as RNA and still provide the same shelf life stability as chemical based pesticides combined with equivalent biological performances. At GreenLight Biosciences, we have successfully solved the first challenge by developing an innovative, patented, cell-free technology platform that produces high-quality, cost-effective and scalable dsRNA solutions. Now, we are developing the first line of bio-pesticide formulated products that will provide targeted pest control without the drawbacks linked to the use of chemical pesticides. Development of a commercially viable product based on dsRNA is not a trivial task due to the properties of RNA as a biological molecule. The design has to take in account different challenges of working with RNA to ensure stability of the formulation in different forms: whether concentrated, diluted in a spray tank, as a standalone or combined with multiple tank mix partners in all types of water, and after being sprayed on the leaf. Today, I will guide the audience through the exciting journey that is taking the GreenLight Biosciences team to transform an “idea” into a “product” that farmers will use safely and effectively in the fields.

Journey of effectively and efficiently developing a formulated dsRNA product

2019 Fall National Meeting

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