RNA interference (RNAi) technology for sustainable insect pest management: Recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural production has accelerated the development of environmentally responsible pest management strategies capable of reducing dependence on conventional chemical insecticides. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising molecular technology for next-generation insect pest control due to its high target specificity, environmentally friendly nature, and compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) systems. RNAi-mediated pest suppression relies on the introduction of sequence-specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), which activates endogenous gene silencing pathways and subsequently disrupts the expression of essential genes associated with insect survival, development, reproduction, and metabolism. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in RNAi-based insect pest management, including the molecular mechanisms underlying dsRNA processing, target gene identification approaches, and emerging delivery platforms. Various dsRNA delivery strategies, such as host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), nanoparticle-assisted delivery, symbiont-mediated RNAi, and viral-based approaches, are discussed with emphasis on their advantages and limitations under field conditions. Recent progress toward commercialization demonstrates the increasing potential of RNAi-based biopesticides; however, challenges including variable RNAi efficiency among insect taxa, rapid dsRNA degradation, inefficient cellular uptake, off-target effects, resistance evolution, regulatory uncertainty, and production costs continue to restrict widespread adoption. Future advancements integrating RNAi with nanotechnology, functional genomics, artificial intelligence-driven target prediction, and IPM-based approaches may enhance the reliability, scalability, and sustainability of RNAi applications. Therefore, RNAi represents a transformative approach in modern pest management, providing opportunities for precise insect suppression while reducing ecological risks associated with conventional pesticides.