Commercialization Status and Existing Problems of RNA Biopesticides (2025)

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Abstract References

College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002

Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032

Abstract

RNA biopesticides use the principle of RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit the expression of important genes in target organisms, causing the developmental retardation or death of harmful organisms, thereby achieving the purpose of pest control. The technology does not alter the genome of pests and cause adverse effects on the ecosystem. RNA biopesticides are called “the third revolution in the history of pesticides” because they have the advantages of precision, high efficiency, green and pollution-free, etc. In recent years, with the approval of Bayer’s insect-resistant transgenic maize MON87411 which expressing insect dsRNA, major traditional agrochemical companies have invested a lot of manpower and material resources in layout and product development. In addition, it has also attracted the attention of the capital market, and large numbers of companies based on RNAi technology for pest control have emerged, which has greatly accelerated the industrialization of RNA biopesticides. With the rapid development of RNA biopesticides, it will be bound to change the global pesticide market pattern, which is undoubtedly a new challenge. Although the R&D program in this field started early and the starting point is relatively high in our country, most of the research mainly focuses on basic theories, and the application development is relatively weak, which has lagged far behind the international counterparts. Compared with traditional pesticides, RNA biopesticides have their own unique features in both mechanism and application development. It is urgent to improve the corresponding laws and regulations to supervise and guide production, promote the rapid development of RNA biopesticides in our country, and reduce the risk of international pesticide giants forming a technological monopoly in this field. Based on this, this paper systematically summarized the current domestic and foreign R&D status, commercialization, and future development trends of RNA biopesticides, as well as the regulations and policies related to RNA biopesticides in Europe, the United States and other countries. In addition, the paper also pointed out some urgent problems in the progress of R&D and industrialization of RNA biopesticides, hoping to provide a useful reference for the development and supervision of RNA biopesticides in China.

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Commercialization Status and Existing Problems of RNA Biopesticides (2025)
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