A High-Level Visit to Fraunhofer IME: Raising Awareness of RNAi-Based Crop Protection at the Highest Level of Government

On March 12th, 2026, our partner Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME) received a distinguished guest at its facilities in Giessen, Germany: Minister Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister, who visited the institute to learn firsthand about cutting-edge research in sustainable plant protection — including the RNA-based biopesticide work being carried out in the context of NextGenBioPest.

The visit brought together national, regional, and local authorities, researchers, and members of the public in a compelling demonstration of how science and policy can — and must — work hand in hand to address the agricultural challenges of our time.

RNAi Technology in the Spotlight

At the heart of the visit was an exploration of RNAi (RNA interference)-based crop protection — one of the most promising frontiers in sustainable pest management. Fraunhofer IME researchers presented their work on developing RNA-based solutions targeting some of agriculture's most damaging and difficult-to-control pests, including aphids and the reed glass planthopper.

These insects pose significant threats to crop yields across Europe and beyond, and conventional chemical pesticides often struggle to provide effective, targeted control without broader environmental impacts. RNAi technology offers a fundamentally different approach: by silencing specific genes essential to the pest's survival or reproduction, it enables highly precise intervention — affecting only the target organism while leaving beneficial insects, soil organisms, and ecosystems intact.

Minister Bär's visit offered an opportunity to walk through the science behind this technology, from the laboratory bench to its potential deployment in real agricultural settings — and to discuss the regulatory, social, and economic dimensions of bringing RNA-based biopesticides to market.

Connecting Science with Policy and Society

The event was notable not only for the seniority of the guest but for the breadth of its audience. By engaging national, regional, and local authorities alongside the research community and the general public, Fraunhofer IME created a genuine multi-stakeholder dialogue around the future of plant protection in Germany and Europe.

This type of engagement is essential. Translating scientific innovation into policy action and public acceptance requires exactly these kinds of conversations — where researchers can explain what they are doing, why it matters, and how it fits into broader societal goals around food security, environmental sustainability, and the reduction of chemical pesticide use.

The event significantly raised awareness of RNA-based biopesticides and of the ecosystem of projects — including NextGenBioPest — that are actively working to bring these solutions from concept to commercialisation.

A Milestone for NextGenBioPest's Policy Outreach

For NextGenBioPest, the visit represents a meaningful milestone in connecting the project's research to the policy arena. Fraunhofer IME's ability to engage a Federal Minister in a direct, substantive conversation about RNAi-based crop protection reflects the growing political recognition of biopesticide innovation as a strategic priority for European agriculture.

We congratulate and thank the Fraunhofer IME team for organising such an impactful event and for their continued excellence in communicating the relevance and potential of NextGenBioPest's research to audiences at every level of society.