September General meeting

Dr Amol Ghodke, Research Scientist with CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, will present his latest research, focusing on invasive ant control using RNAi technology.

The increasing impact of invasive pests on agriculture, biodiversity, and human wellbeing has intensified the need for innovative, species-specific management strategies. Modern molecular approaches, including transcriptomics, comparative genomics, functional gene annotation, and RNA interference (RNAi), offer powerful tools to improve our understanding of pest biology and develop targeted control solutions. This presentation will highlight my research focused on highlights of various pest species like aphids, red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), and other biosecurity-relevant pest species, showcasing how large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets can be used to identify candidate genes, investigate biological pathways, assess potential non-target risks, and support the development of next-generation pest management technologies. The presentation will also explore the potential role of gene driven technology and its potential future role in Australian Biosecurity.