LUBBOCK, TX – Agragene’s first commercial application of its precision-guided sterile insect technology may arrive in fruit production before it reaches the livestock industry. The company expects to introduce a product in 2027 targeting spotted wing drosophila, one of the most destructive insect pests affecting berries and other soft fruit crops.
Chief Executive Officer Bryan Witherbee says the invasive pest causes significant losses for growers because even minor infestations can prevent fruit from being marketed fresh. Many producers rely on repeated insecticide applications to protect market quality and avoid being forced into lower-value processing markets.
Agragene’s technology produces sterile male insects that compete with wild populations, reducing pest numbers without the need for broad-spectrum insecticide applications. The company believes the approach can help protect yields while lowering production costs and reducing pesticide use.
Success with berries could provide a pathway to expand the technology to additional invasive agricultural pests, including future livestock applications.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Precision insect control may first improve profitability for fruit growers before expanding to other crops and livestock pests.