Speaker spotlight #3: A new kind of crop protection. What if the next generation of crop protection could be designed with precision at the molecular level? At the 2026 Ontario Pest Management Conference, Wayne Barton, Development & Tech Services Consultant with GreenLight Biosciences Inc., will explore one of the emerging technologies that could help shape the future of the IPM toolbox: RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi uses targeted delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to interfere with specific biological processes in pests. Its highly targeted nature, short environmental half-life and potential for reduced effects on beneficial organisms and other non-targets make it a particularly interesting approach to crop protection. But promising technology doesn't automatically translate into reliable field performance. Wayne's presentation will look at where RNAi and dsRNA technologies are being used today - and what needs to happen for them to move beyond a small number of novel products toward a broader crop protection platform. That means tackling some very practical questions: How do Ontario Pest Management Conference select effective targets? How can dsRNA be produced economically? How do Ontario Pest Management Conference formulate and deliver it effectively? How do Ontario Pest Management Conference achieve sufficient uptake, persistence and consistency under real-world field conditions? And what will regulatory science need to consider as the technology develops? As growers face a shrinking selection of conventional active ingredients, technologies like RNAi offer a glimpse at what a very different kind of crop protection toolbox could look like. Meet Wayne Barton. Wayne Barton is a Development & Tech Services Consultant with GreenLight Biosciences Inc., where he is focused on the development of their dsRNA crop protection pipeline. A graduate of the University of Guelph with a BSc (Agr) and MSc in plant pathology, Wayne spent 26 years with BASF Canada in crop protection field research, marketing and R&D leadership, following earlier consulting work in crop residue, soil dissipation and efficacy. His career has spanned both the practical and technical sides of crop protection - and now, he is working at the forefront of an emerging technology with the potential to add an entirely new dimension to the IPM toolbox. From molecules to messages, the next generation of crop protection may work very differently. Join Wayne and its other plenary speakers at the 2026 Ontario Pest Management Conference on November 3 in Guelph ON as Ontario Pest Management Conference explore The Next IPM Toolbox: Finding Tomorrow's Solutions. 2026 Ontario Pest Management Conference From CA$40.00 November 3, 2026, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Victoria Park East Golf Club

Mexico authorizes GreenLight's RNA-based biofungicide OIFIRAX. Aug. 25, 2026 Mexico has authorized what GreenLight Biosciences describes as the world's first commercially registered RNA-based biofungicide, marking a significant development in the use of RNA technology for the management of agricultural diseases. The product, OIFIRAX, was authorized by Mexico's Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) for the control of grape powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator. The disease, also known as powdery mildew, affects leaves, shoots and fruit and can reduce photosynthesis, the quality of grapes and vineyard yields when left unmanaged. The registration was evaluated jointly by COFEPRIS, Mexico's National Service for Agro-Alimentary Public Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), and the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). According to information released during the authorization announcement, the complete regulatory dossier was approved in approximately nine months. GreenLight said the registration follows more than 10 years of research and testing conducted in Mexico and other countries. RNA technology targets fungal pathogen OIFIRAX is based upon double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules designed to temporarily block an essential gene involved in the development of the target fungus. The technology is based upon a sequence-specific mechanism intended to interfere with the pathogen, while leaving the plant's normal biological processes unaffected. OIFIRAX does not modify the DNA of the crop and therefore does not make the plant a genetically modified organism. The selectivity of the approach is one of the technology's main potential advantages. By targeting a specific genetic sequence, RNA-based crop protection products can potentially reduce exposure to non-target organisms, including bees, butterflies and beneficial soil microorganisms. The RNA molecules also degrade naturally through enzymes, radiation and processes occurring in soil and water, potentially reducing the risk of environmental accumulation, compared with some conventional pesticides. However, the technology is expected to be used as part of an integrated disease-management program, rather than as a stand-alone solution. Growers will need to follow the authorized label, including application rates, intervals and registered crops. Resistance management remains important Despite the selectivity of the technology, RNA-based disease control will still require monitoring for the development of resistance. Repeated use of a product targeting the same essential gene could create selection pressure on fungal populations, potentially favoring individuals with genetic variations that reduce sensitivity to the treatment. Researchers will also need to continue evaluating the degree of genetic similarity between the targeted sequence and genes occurring in non-target organisms. The commercial deployment of OIFIRAX will therefore provide an important opportunity to generate additional field data on the agronomic and environmental performance of RNA-based fungicides at commercial scale. The registration should also be distinguished from the broader development of RNA-based pesticides. RNA technology had already reached the commercial pesticide market through insect-control products, including Calantha, registered in the United States against the Colorado potato beetle. OIFIRAX represents a different application, with an RNA-based product targeting a fungal pathogen. Investment opportunity in Mexico Beyond its regulatory significance, the authorization could create a new manufacturing and investment platform for RNA-based agricultural technologies in Mexico. GreenLight Biosciences plans to invest between US$50 million and US$100 million in a production facility in Mexico City. GreenLight expects the project to create more than 500 specialized jobs. Additionally, the investment could strengthen Mexico's position in the emerging RNA crop-protection sector while providing GreenLight with local production capacity for a technology that is moving from research and regulatory development toward commercial distribution. The authorization comes as agricultural input companies increasingly explore biological and precision-based alternatives to conventional crop protection. RNA-based products are attracting attention because their mechanism can be designed around specific genetic sequences, potentially enabling a level of target specificity that is difficult to achieve with broad-spectrum chemistries. For the agricultural industry, however, OIFIRAX remains an emerging technology. Its long-term performance, resistance profile and environmental behavior will need to be assessed as its commercial use expands. The Mexican registration nonetheless establishes an important regulatory precedent: for the first time, an RNA-based fungicide has moved beyond experimental development into commercial crop protection, opening a new chapter in the evolution of biological and precision agricultural technologies. (Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)