The massive, insecticide-based control of agricultural pests and insect disease vectors has long been associated with important environmental and health consequences, including ecosystem disruption, non-target species effects, and the emergence of resistance. Can new genomic technologies reduce costs and open opportunities to develop more precise strategies that directly target specific genes within insect populations?
Targeting genes of the population of interest would spare effects on other species, making pest management efficient and safe.
The course “Application of gene editing and RNA interference methods in insects of agricultural and sanitary importance”, held on April 13–17, 2026 in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina, provided a timely and forward-looking platform for training and collaboration to address this challenge. It focused on equipping researchers and professionals with advanced tools such as CRISPR-based gene editing and RNA interference (RNAi), which enable targeted modification or silencing of genes involved in pest development, reproduction, or pathogen transmission. Topics ranged from the molecular mechanisms underpinning gene editing and RNAi, to delivery strategies. Importantly, the course also explored real-world applications in pest and vector control, highlighting how these technologies can be locally relevant across Latin America and the Caribbean.
With 42 participants from diverse academic backgrounds and countries across the region—both in-person and virtually—the training fostered knowledge exchange and encouraged the development of collaborative networks. Participants left with the ability to design strategies tailored to their own research contexts, demonstrating the course’s potential for long-term impact in advancing sustainable pest and vector management.
Beyond technical training, the course also addressed crucial regulatory and risk management considerations. This integrated perspective is essential to ensure that innovation in insect biotechnology is both scientifically robust and socially responsible.
This activity was coordinated by Dr. Silvia Lanzavecchia, with co-coordinators Dr. María Inés Catalano and Dr. Rolando Rivera Pomar, and supported by an organizing committee including Dr. Claudia Conte, Dr. Andrés Lavore, Dr. Ricardo Salvador, M.Sc. Ana Montanari, and Dr. Leopoldina Scotti. It was hosted by the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio de Areco (UNSAdA) and jointly organized with institutions such as the Instituto de Genética (INTA), CITNOBA–CeBio (UNNOBA), and IPAF-INTA, with the participation of leading international centres including Georg-August University Göttingen, Instituto Pasteur (Uruguay), USDA, and others.
