Spray It, Don't Say It: RNA Biopesticides Mean Business

Spray-applied RNA interference is closing in on commercial viability, with new research solving stability and targeting challenges

28 Jan 2026

Scientists are edging closer to making RNA interference (RNAi) a reliable field tool for crop protection, as new research identifies the formulation and delivery advances needed to support broader commercial use.

A review published in Horticulturae in January 2026, drawing on international research into spray-induced gene silencing, found that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), when applied as a foliar treatment, can silence essential pest genes by exploiting the target organism's own biological pathways, without altering the genome of the crop plant or pest. The 2023 US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration of Ledprona, the first commercially approved sprayable dsRNA biopesticide, which targets the Colorado potato beetle, demonstrated that this class of inputs can clear the US regulatory pathway.

The Horticulturae study identifies delivery stability and dsRNA degradation as the primary barriers to wider adoption. Researchers point to nanoparticle encapsulation and engineered lipid vesicles as the most promising solutions for preserving the RNA molecule from application through ingestion by target pests. Clay-based particle carriers and chitosan nanoparticle systems have extended field persistence, narrowing a reliability gap that has historically favoured synthetic insecticides in grower decisions. Computational biology tools are also accelerating the identification of suitable gene targets and enabling earlier screening for off-target risks.

A related study in Advanced Genetics in early 2026 found that multi-omics platforms and computational modelling allow researchers to map cross-species susceptibility risks across entire pest populations before field trials begin. The research notes that dsRNA products are designed for high sequence specificity, which may reduce risks to non-target organisms compared with broad-spectrum pesticides, though the authors stress that regulatory and ecological risk assessment remains necessary.

Regulatory scientists and industry analysts note that a compressed EPA approval timeline for low-risk biological actives is accelerating the development pipeline, with multiple dsRNA candidates in late-stage development for use in key row and specialty crops. Whether formulation science and AI-guided target selection can deliver the consistency growers require at scale, and how regulators in markets outside the US approach this emerging class of biopesticide, remain open questions for the sector.