Pesticides Might Soon Be Replaced With an RNA-Based Vaccine
Justin Lam — April 18, 2018 — Eco
References: geneticliteracyproject.org & digitaltrends
Chemical pesticides are a necessary evil in modern agriculture, but researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) may have found an alternative in an RNA-based vaccine. Created to be eco-friendly, this new innovation in agriculture is made to fight back insects without damaging the surrounding environment. The vaccine works by triggering an automatic defense mechanism found in plants, animals and other complex organisms. The RNA-based vaccine does not necessarily deal with insects looking to eat crops, but instead gives plants the ability to fight against the pathogens that insects carry.
Manfred Heinlein, a cell biology expert who worked on the project, explained that the pesticide alternative could "strengthen the plant’s own pathogen defense systems through a natural mechanism." The application of the RNA-based vaccine would be quite similar to pesticides as they would simply be sprayed over the leaves. Unlike pesticides, the vaccine is biodegradable and does not accumulate on the environment like traditional pesticides.
Image Credit: Bill Ravlin/Michigan State University
Manfred Heinlein, a cell biology expert who worked on the project, explained that the pesticide alternative could "strengthen the plant’s own pathogen defense systems through a natural mechanism." The application of the RNA-based vaccine would be quite similar to pesticides as they would simply be sprayed over the leaves. Unlike pesticides, the vaccine is biodegradable and does not accumulate on the environment like traditional pesticides.
Image Credit: Bill Ravlin/Michigan State University
Trend Themes
1. Rna-based Vaccines - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing RNA-based vaccines as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture.
2. Eco-friendly Agriculture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for pest control in farming.
3. Biodegradable Pesticides - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing biodegradable pesticides that do not harm the environment or accumulate over time.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating RNA-based vaccines and eco-friendly techniques into conventional agriculture practices.
2. Biotechnology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Advancing the development and application of RNA-based vaccines in the field of biotechnology.
3. Environmental Science - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Investigating the impact of biodegradable pesticides on the environment and promoting sustainable practices in environmental science.
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