The primary purpose of this agreement is to develop and validate a sustainable rnai-based nanoparticle biopesticide platform for the targeted management of two destructive invasive forest pests, BTM…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $133,194 cooperative agreement to the University of Massachusetts on September 30, 2026, to develop and validate a sustainable RNA interference-based nanoparticle biopesticide platform for targeted management of two invasive forest pests: box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) and spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar). The recipient will conduct research to establish targeted and effective management strategies using RNAi-based nanoparticle biopesticides against these destructive Lepidopteran pests. Performance occurs in Massachusetts with a completion date of September 29, 2027. The University of Massachusetts, a public research institution and Land Grant College in Amherst, serves as the awardee through its Office of Grant & Contract Administration.

The primary purpose of this agreement is to develop and validate a sustainable rnai-based nanoparticle biopesticide platform for the targeted management of two destructive invasive forest pests, BTM and SM. This project is a collaborative approach for conducting a study on RNA interference (rnai)-based nanoparticle biopesticides for the targeted control of invasive lepidopteran pests, specifically box tree moth (BTM), cydalima perspectalis, and spongy moth (SM), lymantria dispar dispar through a collaborative approach, they will conduct a study on RNA interference (rnai)-based nanoparticle biopesticides to establish targeted and effective management strategies.