As traditional pesticides lose their effectiveness due to regulatory changes and increasing pest resistance, growers are searching for a new way forward. GreenLight Biosciences’ Jonathan Adamson tells Stephanie Hoff that RNA technology can control the pests that potato growers and other specialty crop farmers deal with regularly.
For many farmers in the Midwest, the shift is born out of necessity. After decades of relying on the same active ingredients, pests like the Colorado potato beetle have developed significant resistance, leaving crops vulnerable and farmers searching for a new strategy.
“Many of the growers are running into resistance challenges or just products that flat-out won’t control the invasive pests that they’ve had to control in the past,” Adamson says. “They need newer technologies and newer options to help them navigate that.”
The company’s flagship product, Calantha, is an example. Instead of poisoning the insect, the RNA technology works by “sending the wrong message” to the pest’s biology. In the case of the potato beetle, the message essentially instructs the insect to stop feeding, causing it to starve without impacting the surrounding ecosystem.
The move toward RNA technology also aligns with a growing industry push for regenerative agriculture and sustainability, Adamson explains. Because the application is highly targeted, it avoids beneficial pollinators like bees.
“We’re providing an opportunity to bring back the natural environment and bring back healthier soils,” he says. “Growers are looking at that saying, ‘How can we incorporate these tools into our farm to allow us to continue to be sustainable?’”
While the technology is currently focused on the potato and specialty fruit markets, such as targeting mites and powdery mildew, the success suggests a broader shift in how the world’s food is protected.
