Researchers develop an alternative to natural pesticides that does not harm bees



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  • Researchers at the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield are working with industry to develop a natural, sustainable biological control that targets pests without harming honey bees or other useful pollinators.
  • Crop losses worldwide, including insects, plant viruses and fungi, are about $ 100 billion a year, a 40% loss of world agricultural production.
  • New alternative to pesticides could help achieve food security while protecting essential pollinators

A natural and sustainable alternative to pesticides, targeting specific pests, without harming helpful pollinators such as honeybees, is being developed with the help of researchers from the Institute for Sustainable Food of Canada. 39, University of Sheffield.

Working with Syngenta, an industry partner and leading farmer, the Institute's experts are helping to develop an innovative biocontrol that uses ssRNA-based biological controls to control plant pests.

RNA is an essential molecule for encoding, decoding, regulating and expressing genes. RNA-based biocontrols exploit a natural process called RNA interference (RNAi) in which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) essentially stops the production of an essential protein in humans. target pest.

There is a significant need for innovative approaches to crop protection, driven by the need for increased food production, the expansion of pests due to climate degradation and the need for more sustainable farming practices.

A new study published by scientists from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Analyst, suggests that this new approach could be essential to address the threat posed by plant pests to food security, resulting in a 40% loss of global agricultural production and a cost of 100 billion dollars. every year.

Professor Mark Dickman of the Institute for Sustainable Food and Director of Research at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield led the study. He said: "The RNA biocontrols we work with Syngenta can help address the challenge of agricultural sustainability. The idea is that dsRNAs are applied to crops, then comes the parasite that eats the crop. The dsRNA molecule then kills the pest by triggering the RNAi mechanism. The advantage of this is that we can be very selective. We have the ability to target a specific pest while protecting useful species, such as honeybees.

"A major challenge will be to produce enough natural, biodegradable and sustainable biocontrols and deliver them to crops. We are currently working on production strategies to achieve RNA biocontrol and methods of analysis of this important product. "

Mike Bean, Head of RNAi Platforms at Syngenta, said: "Syngenta has been developing for several years the scientific basis of RNA-based biocontrol, led by scientists from our Ghent Innovation Center, in Belgium. We work in partnership with a number of leading academic institutions and organizations to help address the many challenges of moving from concept to product.

"We are delighted to be working with experts from the Sheffield University Institute of Sustainable Food on some of the issues of ssRNA production and analysis, while we continue to develop the science and high quality data needed to develop this innovative and exciting product. market for the benefit of farmers. "

The Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield brings together multidisciplinary expertise and world-class research facilities to contribute to food security and the protection of the natural resources on which we all depend.

L & # 39; study Analysis of long dsRNA produced in vitro and in vivo by atomic force microscopy in combination with reverse ion pair HPLC, is published in the journal Analyst and is accessible via: DOI: 10.1039 / C9AN00954J

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