Leveraging advances in RNAi and CRISPR for improved biological pest control
Nicky R. Faber, K. R. Ashok, Thiruvengadam Venkatesan, Bregje Wertheim, Mariana Bulgarella
Abstract
The limitations of chemical pesticides and their associated risks highlight the need for more sustainable pest management strategies. Biological control using natural enemies offers an eco-friendly alternative but is sometimes constrained by efficiency and scalability. Emerging molecular tools-RNA interference (RNAi) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based gene editing-present novel opportunities to enhance existing biological control or to control pests directly. RNAi induces targeted gene knockdown via a non-heritable, transient response. CRISPR enables precise genetic modifications and could improve traits in beneficial insects or disrupt essential genes in pests, optionally including a gene drive for increased power. Although limitations remain for several species, these technologies could be valuable tools for integrated pest management. Their future implementation raises biosafety and regulatory considerations, particularly for self-propagating systems like gene drives. This review showcases developments in RNAi and CRISPR-based pest control, and calls for risk-based, adaptive governance to enable their responsible use in sustainable agriculture.