GreenLight Biosciences has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several states for its bioinsecticide, Calantha, which targets the Colorado potato beetle.
This is a significant milestone for the company and the agricultural industry as Calantha is the first registration of a foliar-applied product with an RNA ingredient under Section Three of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
“The registration of Calantha marks not just a milestone for our company, but a quantum leap for farmers, our food system and security, and people,” said Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio. “This is a new day for farmers seeking to balance pest management with biodiversity protection and environmental health. Calantha embodies the promise of such a future, along with the dozens of other innovations in our product pipeline. We are thrilled to witness the impending impact of this commercial chapter of our company in creating a more sustainable future.”
The product’s registration follows a four-year review by the EPA of safety and efficacy data submitted by GreenLight Bio, including public comment periods. Calantha offers farmers an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides, which can harm both the environment and human health.
“Potato growers have expressed their struggle in managing the Colorado potato beetle due to increasing resistance to currently available chemical products. They want effective products that align with their sustainability targets. Calantha is the perfect fit,” said Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager of Plant Health. “I commend our team’s tenacity in bringing this product to market and eagerly anticipate the future milestones we will achieve.”
It is effective against chemical pesticide resistance, which costs the U.S. agricultural sector at least $10 billion annually, and is particularly effective against the Colorado potato beetle, which accounts for more than half a billion dollars in crop loss worldwide each year. Calantha’s dsRNA (double-stranded ribonucleic acid) ingredient breaks down quickly and leaves no harmful residue on plants or in the environment, soil or waterways.
