In the ongoing battle against agricultural pests, traditional pesticides have often been criticized for their broad-spectrum approach, which can harm not just the targeted pests but also beneficial insects, plants, and the surrounding environment. Enter RNA interference (RNAi), a technology that promises to revolutionize pest management with surgical precision. “If traditional pesticides are blunt instruments for killing pests, RNAi is the polar opposite,” says Dr. John Husnik, CEO at Vancouver-based Renaissance Bioscience. “It’s exceptionally precise.”
RNAi leverages RNA molecules to interfere with specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules in pests. By targeting and destroying these mRNA molecules, RNAi can incapacitate pests without harming the soil, plants, or surrounding wildlife. “It’s a very environmentally friendly solution with the potential to be very broad-based,” Husnik adds.
While RNAi is not a new concept in crop protection, Renaissance Bioscience stands out due to its unique delivery mechanism: baker’s yeast. This innovation addresses a significant challenge in the field—preventing RNA from degrading quickly. “RNA molecules are sensitive to degradation,” Husnik explains. “The big problem has always been delivery. How do you prevent RNA from being degraded quickly in the field? We think that marriage between yeast and RNA is what solves a lot of those problems.”
The yeast-based system offers several advantages. It can be stored at ambient temperatures for long periods without losing efficacy, making it a practical solution for farmers. “Production can be easily scaled, and the downstream processing is simple: we just inactivate the yeast and spray dry it,” Husnik notes. “It doesn’t lose its efficacy if you mix it with other crop inputs such as herbicides or fungicides or adjuvants.” However, the system is effective only against chewing insects, such as the Colorado potato beetle, and not against sucking insects with a proboscis.
Renaissance Bioscience initially targeted the Colorado potato beetle with a single RNA molecule but has since evolved its approach. “We’ve tested up to four different individual RNA molecules in the same yeast cell,” Husnik says. “We could probably go to five or six. We could even potentially have two RNA molecules going after insect species one, and two going after insect species two, all in the same yeast cell.”
The company is also pioneering next-generation technology to deliver mRNA and single-stranded RNA in yeast, which could significantly broaden the scope of their applications. This new method promises an eight-fold increase in RNA production, making it even more commercially viable. Field trials for this advanced technology are planned for next year.
Renaissance Bio’s go-to-market strategy involves partnering with companies that have regulatory expertise. The company recently struck a joint development agreement with Dutch crop protection specialist Certis Belchim to develop and commercialize an environmentally friendly biopesticide against an unspecified target pest. “We have research field trials in several countries this year targeting the Colorado potato beetle,” Husnik says. “But the next step is working with companies around the world that have different insect issues in their regions so we can go after multiple insects, do joint development agreements, and work together.”
From a regulatory perspective, the inactivation of the yeast is crucial. “That’s super important; it cannot multiply in the field. It’s inert, so regulators are only going to be focused on the RNA molecule itself as an active ingredient,” Husnik explains. “We can show on multiple levels that it doesn’t harm birds, bees, humans, nothing except the target. You could sit down and eat it without safety concerns; it’s just like yeast flakes.”
As Renaissance Bioscience advances its innovative yeast-powered RNAi technology, the future of precision pest management looks promising. This breakthrough could offer farmers a sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pesticides, setting a new standard in agricultural practices.