AgroSpheres and FMC Corporation are taking two RNA-based bioinsecticide candidates out of the laboratory and into global field trials, marking a major step in a multi-year partnership aimed at tackling some of agriculture’s most damaging moth and caterpillar pests.

 

The candidates will be tested across the United States, Brazil and Asia, putting the technologies through real-world conditions spanning different crops, climates and pest pressures.

 

"Moving these candidates into the field is an important moment for this partnership," said Payam Pourtaheri, Co-Founder and CEO of AgroSpheres. "It's where the science we've rigorously validated against the industry standard in the lab meets the complexity of real growing conditions, across very different climates and crop systems. That's the true test of a biological product, and we're looking forward to running it side-by-side with FMC."

 

The move follows years of laboratory, greenhouse and small-scale field testing in which the candidates were benchmarked against industry-standard insecticides. According to the companies, the biomolecules consistently met or exceeded that performance benchmark before advancing to the larger trials.

 

The stakes are significant. Fall armyworm, diamondback moth and a small group of other major lepidopteran pests collectively account for nearly $14 billion in crop losses and control costs worldwide each year, according to the companies.

 

The two candidates are based on AgroSpheres' biomodality platform, which is designed to target specific biological pathways in pests rather than rely on the broader action of conventional insecticides.

 

The company's AgriCell delivery platform is central to that approach. The technology uses fermentation-produced biomolecules and encapsulates them to protect against field conditions such as UV exposure, heat and moisture. The system is also designed to control the release of the active ingredient, with the goal of delivering it where and when it is needed.

 

The companies say the approach could potentially reduce impacts on beneficial insects while also opening new options for resistance management when biological products are used alongside conventional crop-protection chemistries.

 

"Innovation in crop protection is about finding new ways to help growers manage pests safely, effectively and sustainably," said Seva Rostovtsev, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at FMC Corporation. "Field trials are where promising technologies begin to demonstrate their real-world potential across different crops, climates and pest pressures. We're encouraged by the progress to date and look forward to continuing the evaluation of these candidates."

 

The field trials represent the latest stage of a collaboration first announced in 2024. The results will determine how the two RNA-based candidates perform under commercial agricultural conditions and whether they can advance further toward product development.

 

For AgroSpheres and FMC, the next test is no longer confined to controlled laboratory or greenhouse environments. The technologies will now face the variability—and demands—of fields across three continents.