REACT Stakeholder Meeting in Parma: Innovation, Regulation and the Future of SIT

React Insect

REACT Stakeholder Meeting in Parma: Innovation, Regulation and the Future of SIT

12 Sept 2025

At its stakeholder meeting in Parma, the REACT project showcased first field trial results of the Sterile Insect Technique in Europe and discussed regulatory challenges and stakeholder engagement for its future use.

On 10 September 2025, REACT welcomed stakeholders from across Europe to a dedicated meeting at the NH Hotel in Parma, Italy. The event brought together scientists, regulators, and practitioners to discuss the latest progress in Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) research and the regulatory frameworks that will determine its future application in Europe.

Innovation and the challenge of invasive pests

In his opening remarks, Prof. Marc Schetelig (JLU Gießen) underlined the dual challenge REACT addresses: the growing pressure of invasive insect pests on European agriculture and the need for regulatory readiness when deploying innovative biological control tools.

Prof. Nikolaos Papadopoulos (University of Thessaly) presented REACT’s localized SIT strategies, tailored to Europe’s unique agricultural context where half of all farms are smaller than two hectares. He highlighted the project’s core components: a small-scale rearing facility, a rapid detection kit, and an enhanced bacteria-based diet that significantly improves fly quality for SIT releases.

Field trials in the Naousa Valley (Northern Greece) already demonstrate promising results. At pilot sites equipped with 130 traps, MedFly (Ceratitis capitata) males are being released with encouraging outcomes—treated plots recorded no captures of wild flies. “Thirty years ago, when I was doing my PhD, MedFly could hardly be detected in Naousa. Today it is constantly present,” Papadopoulos recalled, stressing the urgency of action.

Advances in genetic tools

Prof. Schetelig introduced the latest advances in genetic sexing strains for SIT, an essential step to ensure that only sterile males are released. Using the Mediterranean fruit fly as a model, the Gießen team is applying precise genetic approaches—point mutations rather than transgenes—to develop temperature-sensitive lethal markers that differentiate male from female pupae. He emphasised that SIT works in the opposite direction of gene drives: while gene drives spread traits in populations, SIT deliberately halts reproduction. “SIT and REACT have a minimal genetic footprint,” Schetelig said, highlighting the importance of transparent regulation for novel genetic techniques (NGTs) in Europe.

Risk assessment and regulation

The second session, hosted in collaboration with EFSA experts in Parma, focused on risk assessment and regulatory processes. Dr. Giuseppe Stancanelli stressed the growing importance of rapid risk assessment for exotic plant pests and the role of public awareness in eradication campaigns: “People do not know what is happening. They don’t believe plant pests are a risk.” Dr. Tommaso Raffaello (EFSA) and Dr. Mara Sgroi (European Commission, DG SANTE) outlined the current EU regulatory framework for GMOs and ongoing discussions on NGTs. While new proposals under the EU’s GMO legislation are progressing, they are still primarily designed for plants, not insects.

Open questions remain

The final panel discussion made clear that Europe’s regulatory landscape is still uncertain for SIT applications involving CRISPR-based methods. Current EU proposals focus on plants, leaving insect applications in a grey area. The central question—whether REACT’s sterile insects could eventually be authorised for release in Europe—remains unresolved.

Moving forward with stakeholders

Despite these open regulatory questions, the Parma meeting confirmed strong interest in REACT’s approach. The project is already showing the technical feasibility of SIT for European conditions and, equally important, underlined the necessity of stakeholder engagement to build public confidence and ensure transparency.

As the field trials continue in 2026, REACT will rely on dialogue with farmers, regulators, and the public to bring this innovative pest control strategy closer to practical use in Europe.

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React Insect

REACT Stakeholder Meeting in Parma: Innovation, Regulation and the Future of SIT

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