GreenLight Is Mass-Producing RNA to Fight Crop Pests

Biotechnology startup GreenLight Biosciences Inc. is going to make mass quantities of RNA — a component of cells used in Covid-19 vaccines — to combat crop pests.

GreenLight has opened a facility in Rochester, New York that will manufacture enzymes and RNA for products targeting pests that do everything from destroy potato crops to hurt honeybees. The company cites several environmentally friendly benefits to traditional pesticides. RNA degrades quickly in the environment, and the technology doesn’t impact anything but the pests.