Adrian JohnsonTLDR:
- M3 Agriculture Technologies received a $1 million grant to develop an X-ray-based pest control solution
- The company’s sterile insect technique uses gamma radiation to sterilize insects and release them to control populations in orchards
Organic pest control company M3 Agriculture Technologies received a $1 million grant from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security to develop an X-ray-based approach to insect suppression and eradication. The company’s sterile insect technique utilizes gamma radiation to sterilize insects, releasing them into infested orchards to control populations. By transitioning to X-ray-based sterilization, M3 aims to make the technology more accessible and environmentally friendly, providing a sustainable solution to pest control without harming beneficial insects or using toxic chemicals.
Agriculture technology company develops solution to control pests without chemicals: ‘A sustainable and organic solution to this pressing need’
Organic pest control company M3 Agriculture Technologies has partnered with the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security and Sandia National Laboratories to develop an X-ray-based pest control solution. The company’s sterile insect technique, which uses gamma radiation to sterilize insects and control populations in orchards, aims to provide a sustainable and organic alternative to traditional pest control methods.
The grant received by M3 will allow the company to transition to X-ray-based sterilization, reducing environmental impact and making the technology more accessible to regions without resources for gamma irradiators. CEO Nathan Moses-Gonzales highlighted the importance of sustainable pest control in addressing food security challenges, with invasive species causing significant losses in food production.
By developing innovative methods to control pests without chemicals, M3 Agriculture Technologies is contributing to a more environmentally friendly approach to agriculture and offering a solution to the pressing need for sustainable pest control methods in the industry.
