Unintended consequences of 21 st century technology for agricultural pest management

Abstract

Courtier‐Orgogozo et al [1] argue that public debate and better governance are needed to properly control the use of gene editing for controlling pests in agriculture. They are correct in their assessment that this “could lead to multiple and uncoordinated releases of gene drives into the wild, which is likely to cause unpredictable ecological disturbances with far‐reaching consequences”. However, the context of technology's dark side with regard to agricultural pests includes not just altering genes, but also manipulating the external environment. For centuries, pests, which include weeds, have been able to elude or resist even …