The Agrifood sector is at an inflection point influenced by climate change, natural disasters, consumer trends, digital disruption, population growth, pandemics, changing geopolitical dynamics and biosecurity issues. In this context, managing pests and diseases and safeguarding our agricultural sector from biosecurity risks is a key cog in the Agrifood supply chain. The ongoing usefulness of chemical pesticides suffers from issues such as residual toxicity, run-off, pest specificity and resistance.
RNA for agriculture witnesses a new dimension with RNA based biopesticides or ‘RNA sprays’ or ‘RNA vaccines’ for plants as a next generation crop protection platform without the need for genetic modification is gaining momentum across the globe. The BioClay and Ben Pol platforms developed at the University of Queensland to deliver double stranded RNA as biological active using clay particles as carriers are transformational non-GM, residue free, specific, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. The platforms are being progressed to target viruses, insect pests and fungi. Real world application of RNA based biopesticides with sustainable credentials for the global consumer will be governed by factors such as cost, the regulatory landscape and social license to operate.