Green bio specialist company Genolution announced on the 16th that it has been selected for the 'Small and Medium Business Technology Innovation Development (Global Collaborative R&D)' project hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and will begin developing a fusion eco-friendly bio-pesticides using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
This project aims to develop an advanced biological crop protection agent by combining dsRNA, which targets specific genes in pests, with the Bt microbial agent, which selectively targets pests. The total development period is 36 months, and approximately 1.7 billion won in R&D, including company contributions, will be invested.
This research will be conducted in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME) in Germany. Genolution will be responsible for the discovery, synthesis, and production of dsRNA-based insecticidal genes, while Fraunhofer will be responsible for the exploration of new Bt strains and the development of cultivation technologies. Both parties plan to produce a fusion prototype and verify its commercial viability through field trials both domestically and internationally.
According to market research firm IMARC, the domestic natural crop protection agent market, including microbial pesticides, is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 13.2%, from KRW 211.1 billion in 2024 to KRW 728.5 billion in 2033.
Bt-based pesticides have long been used in organic and eco-friendly agriculture, but resistance issues persist in some pests. While dsRNA pesticides are considered highly selective, targeting only specific pests, their applicability has been limited. The research team explained that the core of this project is to leverage the complementary mechanisms of the two technologies to expand their application range and reduce the likelihood of resistance development.
A Genolution research official said, “By combining dsRNA and Bt technologies, we are developing next-generation biopesticides that can respond to pests that were previously difficult to apply,” adding, “We expect to be able to present competitive products not only in the domestic market but also in the global crop protection agent market.”
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