GreenLight Biosciences Announces Breakthrough in RNA Herbicide Development, Advancing More Sustainable Weed Control

MEDFORD, Mass., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenLight Biosciences (the Company or GreenLight Bio), a pioneering agricultural biotechnology company, today announced a significant breakthrough in its bioherbicide development pipeline.

In greenhouse and field trials, the Company has demonstrated consistent, effective herbicidal activity. The results show that RNA technology can control hard-to-kill weeds and be paired with conventional herbicides to enhance efficacy while reducing overall toxicity, herbicide load and farmer costs. This strategy enables farmers to easily integrate an RNA solution into their current weed management practices. Over time, GreenLight Bio aims to develop a range of standalone RNA-based solutions for row crops and specialty crops that address a wide variety of problematic weed species with precision, further reduce environmental burdens and alleviate resistance issues common among conventional pesticides, including herbicides.

The Company's lead product candidate is designed to control horseweed (Conyza canadensis). Using expertise in biology and proprietary AI-enabled design tools, GreenLight Bio created a pipeline of over 180 possible choices and selected the lead candidate. Horseweed is one of the most problematic weeds in no-till agriculture, particularly in soy production.

"Farmers around the world are grappling with herbicide-resistant weeds and a shrinking toolbox for effective weed control," said Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Biosciences. "Our RNA-based platform introduces a revolutionary, non-GMO approach to weed management. This breakthrough not only targets weeds with precision but also paves the way for potential solutions that can help farmers reduce their reliance on traditional chemical herbicides like glyphosate."

This exciting development allows GreenLight Bio to continue diversifying its portfolio of agricultural solutions by advancing the development of its offerings from pest control into weed management. GreenLight Bio's broader mission is to leverage its RNA platform for agricultural innovation, including developing non-GMO solutions for enhanced crop heat tolerance and improved plant defense mechanisms.

A new era in weed control

Herbicides are the most widely used form of crop protection, with global usage increasing by over 44% between 2017 and 2022. Chemical pesticide resistance is estimated to cost the U.S. agricultural sector at least $10 billion each year. Despite substantial research and development investment, only one new herbicide mode of action (MOA) has been commercialized in the past three decades, leaving farmers with limited options to combat resistant weeds.

GreenLight Bio's RNA-based solution introduces a novel MOA that works with biology rather than against it. GreenLight Bio's RNAi platform of foliar-applied sprays precisely targets essential weed plant functions, leaving crops and the surrounding environment unharmed. The RNA molecules break down quickly, reducing environmental persistence while maintaining efficacy and leaving no harmful residue on crops. This approach offers a much-needed alternative that reduces the need for chemical herbicides that persist in the environment and face increasing regulatory and activist scrutiny.

Path to commercialization

Based on the progress of development to date, GreenLight Biosciences will soon begin working on dossiers for regulatory review to bring products to market worldwide.

GreenLight Bio's commercially available products include Calantha™, which was granted registration in early 2024 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several states to target and control the highly destructive Colorado potato beetle, which decimates plants in the nightshade family. The Company's next solution targets control of Varroa mites, a devastating pest of honeybees, which was submitted to EPA for regulatory review in early 2023.

About GreenLight Biosciences
GreenLight Biosciences is researching, developing and commercializing sustainable, effective, and easy-to-use solutions for farmers and beekeepers around the world to enable more resilient food production. As a leader in RNA for agriculture, the Company has a broad pipeline addressing farmer pain points across insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. The Company's manufacturing platform is protected by numerous patents. For more information, please visit the Company's website.

RNAi is a scientifically validated technology platform already being applied in agriculture, and GreenLight Biosciences is actively commercializing products utilizing this approach.

Media Contact
Catie Lee, GreenLight Biosciences
[email protected]

SOURCE GreenLight Biosciences