Pesticide Product Registration: Applications for New Active Ingredients (March 2026)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports the EPA's consideration of the Knockout SWD technology for controlling the invasive spotted wing drosophila. The USDA highlights that this gene-editing approach provides a cost-effective, non-irradiation sterile insect technique (SIT) that could reduce reliance on traditional insecticides.

Lesley Tamura, Board Chair of Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers, supports the EPA's science-based evaluation of Agragene's KNOCKOUT SWD technology. She argues that specialty crop growers need more innovative pest management tools to combat challenges like Spotted Wing Drosophila and maintain a resilient food supply.

Ryan Phelan of Revive & Restore, a nonprofit conservation organization, supports the registration of KNOCKOUT™ SWD. He argues that this precision-guided Sterile Insect Technique offers a species-specific, environmentally safe alternative to broad-spectrum insecticides and sets a vital regulatory precedent for future genetic biocontrol technologies.

The Breakthrough Institute supports the registration of KNOCKOUT™ SWD, a CRISPR-based sterile insect technique for controlling spotted wing drosophila. They argue that the product is a targeted, self-limiting biocontrol tool that could reduce reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides and advocate for a transparent, risk-proportionate regulatory review.

The commenter supports the EPA's science-based evaluation of KNOCKOUT SWD technology, arguing that growers need more innovative and targeted tools to manage pests like spotted wing drosophila. They emphasize the need for diverse options to combat insecticide resistance and meet market demands.

Robert Poltrino, COO of Skull, Diamond, and Heart Capital, LLC, expresses enthusiastic support for the EPA's registration of Agragene’s KNOCKOUT™ SWD technology. He argues that this species-specific biological tool is essential for protecting specialty crops from the invasive Spotted Wing Drosophila while promoting sustainable integrated pest management.

Mike Omeg, a commercial cherry grower and entomologist, supports the registration of Agragene's KNOCKOUT SWD technology to manage the invasive spotted wing drosophila pest. He argues that the technology offers a species-specific, self-limiting, and effective alternative to broad-spectrum insecticides while preserving natural enemies and managing resistance.

The commenter, a cherry orchardist, supports the registration of new active ingredients for pesticides. They argue that specialty crop growers need more specific pest management solutions to combat invasive insects and support agricultural innovation.

Michael L. DeCamp, an agribusiness investor, supports the EPA's science-based evaluation of Agragene's KNOCKOUT™ SWD technology. He argues that such innovations are essential for protecting specialty crops and that a transparent regulatory process is vital for encouraging private investment in pest management.

Lisa Wasko DeVetter, a professor at Washington State University, supports the registration and commercial deployment of the KNOCKOUT-SWD gene-edited technology. She argues that this innovation provides a necessary, targeted method to manage the invasive spotted-wing drosophila pest while reducing the growers' reliance on costly and potentially harmful chemical insecticides.