Agricultural pest insect control: combining genetics, resistance management and dynamics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
see lead document
People |
ORCID iD |
| Benjamin Raymond (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Zhou L
(2019)
The application of self-limiting transgenic insects in managing resistance in experimental metapopulations.
in The Journal of applied ecology
Méric G
(2018)
Lineage-specific plasmid acquisition and the evolution of specialized pathogens in Bacillus thuringiensis and the Bacillus cereus group.
in Molecular ecology
Raymond B
(2017)
In defense of Bacillus thuringiensis, the safest and most successful microbial insecticide available to humanity - a response to EFSA.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
Zhou L
(2018)
Combining the high-dose/refuge strategy and self-limiting transgenic insects in resistance management-A test in experimental mesocosms.
in Evolutionary applications
Somerville J
(2019)
Aseptic Rearing and Infection with Gut Bacteria Improve the Fitness of Transgenic Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella.
in Insects
Raymond B
(2018)
An appeal for a more evidence based approach to biopesticide safety in the EU.
in FEMS microbiology ecology
| Description | We have investigated experimentally how the release of genetically modified insects might be compatible with the dominant mode of resistance management for genetically modified crops. We have shown that self-limiting GM insects developed by Oxitec can slow or reverse the evolution of resistance and explored the parameter range under which they are compatible. Experiments have shown that moderate release rates and small refugia can work well together btu that impact of the evolution of resistance are critically dependent on the fitness of GM insects and their offspring. Furthermore, we have explored the efficacy of different strategies for GM insect release in structured insect populations and in populations under heterogeneous selection pressure. |
| Exploitation Route | This is the first thorough experimental validation of the value of self-limiting insects insects in resistance management. It confirms that this could be a novel and valuable tool for combating the evolution of resistance and indicates the critical parameters (refuge size, release ratios, transgene fitness costs and their dominance) that are crucial to deploying these tools. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | ACRE advice concerning's DEFRA's consultation on the regulation of genetic technologies. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acre-advice-the-regulation-of-genetic-technologies/acre-a... |
| Description | Helped ADAS draft "Crop Action" document on control of diamondback moth during the 2016 outbreak: issue 29 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | We anticipate that advice on the largest influx of a key Brassica pest for 40 years would have had some impact on farmer's ability to control this pest over that season, although these would be very hard to quantify |
| Description | Co-developing risk assessment across disciplines and borders: gene drive mosquito field trials in Uganda |
| Amount | £49,585 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | INSECT DOCTORS Horizon 2020 ITN award |
| Amount | € 4,200,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 859850 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 10/2019 |
| End | 07/2023 |
| Description | Inclusive and international risk assessment: Building a framework for gene drive organisms through collaboration |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 02/2023 |
| Description | Demography and the evolution of resistance |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are in the process of developing models and proposals to continue this avenue of research and incorporate research theoretical work on population growth and resistance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration is at at early stage- we are developing outline proposals. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Industrial Partnership - (as part of BBSRC IPA award) |
| Organisation | Dow AgroSiences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My team will be engaged in producing mutants with increased virulence to resistant insect pests, as well as screening strain collections and toxin libraries for novel or improved isolates and proteins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner will be providing access to a sequenced strain collection as welll as to additional sequencing / molecular characaterization services. |
| Impact | not yet....project began end of Feb 2019 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Microbial ecology and insect fitness |
| Organisation | Oxitec Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have produced preliminary data indicating that intestinal microbiota make a significant contribution to insect fitness, especially the ability to compete for mates. This could have significant implications for the Oxitec's technology and plans to release insects for pest population reduction. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner Oxitec provided GM insects and made suggestions for protocols/ rearing methods. |
| Impact | At the moment we are considering options for how to follow up on these data- this may mean applying for additional grant/studentship funding. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Product testing of Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Organisation | Andermatt Biocontrol UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Comparing efficacy of Bt products; testing efficacy against insect populations that are resistant to chemical insecticides; production of report & figures |
| Collaborator Contribution | supply strains |
| Impact | none yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Wuhan plasmid project |
| Organisation | Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Department | State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Shaped research questions, wrote paper, shaped and informed analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collected genomic data, analysed data, co-wrote paper |
| Impact | This has resulted in a publication in mBio (Zheng et al)- and is a collaboration between molecular biologists and myself as an evolutionary ecologists. Other projects related to this collaboration are still ongoing. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | IBMA Copa-Cogeca workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Safety and regulation of Bt based biopesticides were discussed with stakeholders and presented to representatives of EU commission |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.ibma-global.org/en/news/ibma-and-copa-cogeca-workshop-to-explore-the-implications-of-baci... |
| Description | IBMA industry conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This is the international biocontrol manufacturers annual meeting and very much an industry meeting rather than an academic conference. I was invited to give a talk on the safety on micro-organisms in biocontrol |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.abim.ch |
| Description | Open days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Penryn campus runs a series of open days throughtout the year designed to engage with prospective students and their families. This gives us a venue in which to talk about our research generally and that of the campus. In an event last summer, for instance, I discussed the recent invasion of diamond back moth and met with a local cabbage farmer and talked about pest control issues associated with this species. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Public consultation on re-licensing of B.t aizawai |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I took part in the formal consultation on the relicensing of a microbial pesticide. I commented on risk assessments and provided expert advice on biosafety |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/consultations/call/190322 |
| Description | Radio interviews relating to diamondback moth outbreak |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We put out a press release relating to the 2016 diamonndback moth outbreak and since Cornwall is a Brassica growing region and this is a Brassica pest I also directly contacted local radio stations. This lead to a series of radio interviews on BBC Local Radio (Laurence Reed Show); Heart FM and was picked by the Mark Forrester show - a pick of local radio program broadcast nationally. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Science of Christmas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This is a children focussed event designed to build enthusiasm in a young / very young audience for science in general. The event is a series of Christmas themed talks- my contributution discussed gift giving in animals and bacteria and introduced the idea of unwanted presents and also touched on current antiobiotic resistance themes. As well as the regional audience parts of this show received some national media interest. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |