Gene drive for tanacetum vulgare control: a model for management - complete fundamental research towards the development of a gene drive for the management of tanacetum vulgare (common tansy)

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service awarded a $141,572 cooperative agreement to the Regents of the University of Minnesota from September 2021 to September 2024 under the Agricultural Research Basic and Applied Research program.

The award will support the completion of fundamental research towards developing a gene drive for the management of common tansy, an invasive plant species. The University of Minnesota will investigate the feasibility and risks of using this novel gene drive technology for the management of non-native, invasive plant species. The research will allow for a risk-benefit analysis to determine if a gene drive approach could effectively control common tansy populations. Findings from this work will provide information necessary to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using gene drives as a potential tool for invasive species management.

Investigating the feasibility and risks associated with this novel technology, which will allow for a risk-benefit analysis for the management of non-native, invasive plant species using a gene drive approach.