By Jamie Martin
Canadian agriculture stands to benefit from a breakthrough in pest management as researchers develop nanotechnology based treatments that target only harmful insects. Up to 40 percent of pre harvest yields are lost globally each year to plant eating pests, making this innovation vital for food security and farmer incomes.
Dr. Justin Pahara and his team at Agriculture and Agri Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre are leading this work. They are designing screening tests to track how pesticides move through insect bodies and how nanomaterials can reach key areas. Their long term plan is to use these insights to deliver precise chemicals into pests based on DNA, sparing pollinators and beneficial predators like spiders and beetles.
Research conducted at the Canadian Light Source revealed mineral enriched regions inside lygus bugs, a common pest that damages crops like canola. These discoveries will help scientists create targeted agents to stop such pests without widespread pesticide spraying.
The team also created 3D virtual reality models of insects to study the exact paths of chemicals, giving them a clearer understanding of how to design accurate treatments.
“We all need food, and if farmers cannot grow their products efficiently and make a living out of it, it’s a problem,” said Pahara. “We need new tools for pest management. Insects are becoming more tolerant to chemicals in the same way antibiotic resistance works in humans.”
With proof that their screening tests work, the group is expanding to weed and fungal pests. They plan to test nanomaterials developed with the National Research Council of Canada to improve pest control even further. This research signals a new era of eco friendly farming solutions that strengthen Canada’s $142 billion agriculture industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-d-keine
Categories: National