Revolutionary RNAi Biopesticide Platform Targets Pests with Precision, Offering a Sustainable Solution for Agricultural Crop Protection
The 2024 “Crop Protection Solution of the Year” award has been presented to Renaissance BioScience by AgTech Breakthrough, recognizing the company’s groundbreaking advancements in sustainable agriculture. AgTech Breakthrough is a leading market intelligence organization that highlights outstanding achievements in agriculture and food technology. This award acknowledges Renaissance BioScience’s yeast-based RNA interference (RNAi) biopesticide platform, which represents a significant step forward in global agricultural crop protection.
Renaissance BioScience’s innovative technology is the first of its kind, leveraging RNAi precision to create biopesticides that can be tailored to target a wide range of harmful pests. This solution replaces traditional chemical insecticides, offering an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative that specifically targets pests without harming non-target organisms or the ecosystem. The ability to disrupt critical pest genes with such precision makes it a powerful tool for pest management in agriculture.
Dr. John Husnik, Chief Science Officer at Renaissance BioScience, emphasized the importance of this achievement: “Our RNAi biopesticide technology is an elegant and precise solution to pest control. It not only targets a variety of pest species but also overcomes key challenges in RNAi biopesticides, such as scalability, durability, and cost-effectiveness. This recognition from AgTech Breakthrough validates the potential of our technology, and we look forward to collaborating further with growers and producers worldwide.”
One of the most notable successes of Renaissance’s platform is its effective targeting of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), a pest notorious for its resistance to multiple pesticides and its threat to global potato production. With RNAi technology, Renaissance offers a customized solution that silences essential genes within the pest after ingestion, resulting in its elimination while leaving other organisms unharmed. The inactive yeast used in the biopesticide decomposes naturally, posing no risk to human health or the environment.
This yeast-based biopesticide can be applied using traditional methods, ensuring its compatibility with existing agricultural practices and facilitating its adoption by farmers and the agricultural industry at large. The ability to produce these biopesticides at scale, combined with their cost efficiency and sustainability, positions Renaissance BioScience as a key player in shaping the future of crop protection.
Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of AgTech Breakthrough, commented on the award: “Renaissance’s RNAi technology is a simple yet powerful solution to one of agriculture’s biggest challenges—pest control. Nearly 40% of annual crop production is lost to pests, and with billions of dollars at stake, more effective and sustainable pest management strategies are urgently needed. Renaissance’s platform is not only addressing these challenges but also redefining what is possible in sustainable agriculture.”
The award reflects the growing demand for innovative crop protection solutions that are both effective and environmentally responsible. With their advanced bioengineering platform, Renaissance BioScience is set to continue its leadership in the development of cutting-edge biopesticides and sustainable agriculture technologies, further contributing to the global agricultural community.
