Weed biocontrol practitioners' perspectives on emerging genetic-based technologies for weed management

Authors: RAFTER, M - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); KUMARAN, N - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); BROOKES, DR - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); REID, MK - University Of Florida; BOWERS, KE - New Mexico State University; CONNACHIE, AJ - Nsw Department Of Primary Industries; CRISTOFARO, M - Bbca-Onlus, Italy; SFORZA, RFH - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); GOODEN, B - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); HOPPER, M - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Submitted to: BioControl
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2026
Publication Date: 1/31/2026
Citation: Rafter, M., Kumaran, N., Brookes, D., Reid, M., Bowers, K., Connachie, A., Cristofaro, M., Sforza, R., Gooden, B., Hopper, M. 2026. Weed biocontrol practitioners' perspectives on emerging genetic-based technologies for weed management. BioControl. 71:427-442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-026-10380-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-026-10380-2

Interpretive Summary: In response to the limitations of biocontrol in certain systems, researchers are increasingly exploring the potential of genetic-based control technologies as complementary tools. Further, biocontrol agents are frequently used as part of an integrated management strategy, and the opportunities that integrating genetic-based controls with biocontrol agents, whether gene drives or RNAi, should be explored. As such, we believed that biocontrol practitioners should be consulted for their expert opinions in developing and integrating these novel tools with biocontrol. We conducted a systematic workshop as part of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds in May 2023 in Argentina. The outcomes of this workshop have shown that these emerging technologies are more likely to be deployed, and be more impactful, if they can utilise the knowledge and approaches of the biocontrol discipline. The perspectives of biocontrol practitioners on genetic-based control approaches are therefore important for the future integration of these approaches and knowledge.

Technical Abstract: Weed biocontrol researchers have been at the forefront of developing management solutions for invasive weeds for over 100 years and have a unique perspective to offer on the emerging field of genetic-based technologies such as gene drive and RNAi. As part of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds in May 2023 we conducted a focus group discussion workshop to explore biocontrol practitioners’ perspectives related to (1) Genetic-based control technologies, and the factors influencing support (or not) for their application to weed management, especially weed biocontrol, (2) Perceived opportunities to apply genetic-based control tools to enhance or complement weed biocontrol, focusing on whether/how genetic tools can be applied to fundamentally change the practice of weed biocontrol, and (3) Genetic-based control in weed management and how it can operate within the Access and Benefit Sharing regulatory landscape. We analyse the perspectives of biocontrol scientists from the workshop and discuss the prospects and challenges of integrating novel genetic-based control tools with biocontrol.