Pest Control

A synthetic biology perspective

A subset of SynBio - pest control related patents were identified during the hybrid topic modelling stage applied to SynBio EPO patents. The publication year trends are shown in figure 8.1, together with the subset related to genetic engineering e.g. transgenic plants, etc. Publication trends discussed below are based on EP A1/A2 applications.

In figure 8.1, the peak publication figures for SynBio pest control occurred in 2018 (245 publications), with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.4% during 2014-2023. The topic is well established since 2011, the recent growth in 2023 (204 publications) represented a 9.7% increase year-on-year. Overall, the genetic engineering related subset represented 65% of the total pest control related publications during 2004-2023, a major methodology for SynBio pest control innovation.

The INPADOC legal status breakdown of the SynBio pest control subset published during 2014-2023 is shown in figure 8.2.

The INPADOC based legal status stats in figure 8.2 revealed approx. 41% of patents are pending with approx. 25% already granted, reflecting an established field. The legal status data suggests the topic has a relatively large proportion of alive patents (66%) and the pending proportion (54%) indicates the potential for further growth.

Publication year subtrends

The publication trends for further subtopic areas within the pest control topic were investigated; transgenic plants, antimicrobials, enzyme (compositions & genetic engineering, etc.) and gene expression regulation, shown in figure 8.3.

The subtrends revealed a growing publication trendline for the antimicrobials subset with a compound annual growth rate of 7.9% during 2014-2023. With genetic engineering accounting for 65% of the pest control dataset identified, there has been persistent patenting activities in the transgenic plants, enzyme (compositions & genetic engineering etc.) and gene expression regulation areas. However, all three areas are lagging behind peak publication years.

The filing trends for the SynBio pest control subset and subtrend areas are shown in figure 8.3. Here we explore the filing or application date of published applications, data is restricted to 2021 due to the potential for an 18 month delay between filing and publication.

In figure 8.4, there exists a declining trend for SynBio pest control since the peak in 2014, which is noticeably shared amongst the subset areas investigated. The antimicrobials subset is a notable area to experience signs of resurgent growth in 2021.

In figure 8.5, the distribution of top 20 CPC classification codes is skewed towards genetic engineering and biocide related classification codes, in particular vectors for plant cells (C12N15/82), which peaked in 2018 with 113 publications. The class descriptors are manually refined for readability, the counts are cumulative publications and publication year based.

The top 20 CPC classification codes provide insight into the methodologies used for SynBio pest control. For example, genetic engineering methods such as modifying plants for insect resistance (C12N15/8286) and fungal resistance (C12N15/8282) plus the engineering of plants using recombinant technology such as antisense (C12N15/113 & C12N15/8218). The use of biocides is unsurprisingly widespread including compounds plus substances produced by microbial species (A01N63/20, etc.).

Growing areas within SynBio - pest control: compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The SynBio pest control related CPC classifications were further investigated to identify areas with a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to identify trending areas, shown in figure 8.6. The selected classes have a cumulative total above 50 publications (due to the number of candidates) during the publication period and are relevant for SynBio subject matter.

  • Biocide, etc & genetic engineering
    In figure 8.6, the identified classification codes suggest the growing influence of antimicrobial compounds and a variety of compounds used as biocides, insecticides and fungicides. Most notably antimicrobial compounds (A01P1/00) is growing at 28.8% CAGR during the 2014-23 publication period. Notable patents based on citing patent counts and within the classes identified include EP3508582 (MONSANTO) disclosing methods for making transgenic plants and particular combinations of transgenic pesticidal agents for use in protecting plants from pest infestation. EP3594225 (BAYER) disclosing a novel Paenibacillus strain which may produce an isolated antifungal compound that can be used to control a plant disease. EP3598899A2 (MONSANTO) disclosing plant growth promoting microbes. EP3766978 (VESTARON CORP) disclosing toxic peptide production and expression in plants. Genetic engineering involving the targeted insertion of genes within the plant genome is growing at 20.9% CAGR. Notable patents include EP3611268 (DU PONT, etc.) disclosing plant genome modification using guide RNA/CAS endonucleases systems. The UK company Tropic Biosciences Ltd with EP3684930 disclosing modifying the specificity of plant non-coding RNA molecules for silencing gene expression.

Growing areas within SynBio - pest control: average growth rate

The average number of publications during two 5 year publication periods; 2014-18 & 2019-23 are contrasted in figure 8.7. The CPC classification codes within the pest control topic, related to SynBio and with sufficient publication totals are analysed.

In figure 8.7, biocides involving isolated proteins and enzymes (A01N63/50) exhibited one of the fastest average growth rates (36%) growing to 53 publications on average per year during 2019-23. There is positive growth in a number of biocide related classifications, especially using bacterial substances (A01N63/20) and peptides from plants (C07K14/415).

Whilst genetic engineering – non-coding nucleic acids modulating expression e.g. antisense (C12N15/113), remained consistent at 24 publications on average per year in both 2014-18 & 2019-23, there exists interesting SynBio innovations. For example, EP3856908 (GREENLIGHT BIOSCIENCES) discloses RNAi molecules targeting an Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) gene for controlling Coleopteran insects. See further information here via Potter Clarkson insights and EP4063501 (BENSON HILL) disclosing plant genome modification. Some of the figures identified in figure 8.7 could likely be higher if further specific classification codes were grouped but act as a sufficient proxy to measure their average rate of growth.

SynBio - pest control: top 30 applicants

The total number of publications for the top 30 SynBio pest control related applicants are shown in figure 8.8, contrasting the overall publication period (2004-23) with a more recent perspective during 2014-2023.