New Study Supports Safety of Gene-Targeted Pest Control, While Highlighting Need for Continued Monitoring
A University of Maryland Study Shows Predators are Unlikely to be Affected by Eating Pests Treated with RNA-Based Genetic Technologies
June 19, 2026
Researchers at the University of Maryland showed that RNA interference (RNAi), a relatively new alternative to chemical pest control in agriculture, can be transmitted from target insects to predators, but the effect is small even under extremely limited “ideal” lab conditions. Their results suggest that RNAi-based pest control could safely help farmers manage pests while reducing some of the environmental concerns associated with traditional insecticides, but caution must be taken to monitor risks. The study was published in June, 2026, in Scientific Reports.