AgroSpheres and FMC Corporation are moving two RNA-based bioinsecticide candidates into global field trials, advancing their collaboration from laboratory and greenhouse testing to evaluations under commercial growing conditions.

The trials will be conducted in the United States, Brazil and Asia against lepidopteran pests, including moth and caterpillar species responsible for significant crop losses and insect-control costs. The companies said the candidates have progressed through laboratory, greenhouse and small-scale field testing, where they were compared with conventional insecticide standards.

“Moving these candidates into the field is an important moment for this partnership,” said Payam Pourtaheri, co-founder and CEO of AgroSpheres. He said the trials will test laboratory results under different climates and crop systems and allow the candidates to be evaluated alongside FMC products.

The collaboration was announced in 2024 and focuses on developing biological insecticides based on RNA biomolecules. The companies said several major lepidopteran pests, including fall armyworm and diamondback moth, account for nearly $14 billion in annual global crop losses and control costs.

The move to broader field testing follows what the companies describe as consistent performance at or above the benchmark set by industry-standard insecticides during earlier testing.

“Innovation in crop protection is about finding new ways to help growers manage pests safely, effectively and sustainably,” said Dr. Seva Rostovtsev, executive vice-president and chief technology officer at FMC Corporation. He said field trials will provide an opportunity to assess how the candidates perform across different crops, climates and pest pressures.

Targeted biological action

AgroSpheres’ technology is based on designing biomolecules to affect specific biological pathways in a pest. The approach is intended to target pest biology more precisely than conventional insecticides that can have broader modes of action.

The company’s AgriCell delivery platform is designed to protect these biomolecules from environmental conditions such as ultraviolet light, heat and moisture. The active ingredient is encapsulated and released in a controlled manner after application.

According to AgroSpheres, the delivery system could also allow biological and conventional crop protection products to be used together as part of insecticide resistance-management programs.

The two candidates will now undergo testing across multiple regions and crop systems. Results from these trials will help determine their performance under commercial field conditions and inform further development of the products.