Researchers are using the very molecules in pests' own hormones to develop more environmentally friendly ways to defeat them.

The world leading research uses a totally new approach to the development of crop protection agents. It is similar to that used for the development of the world's first effective 'flu drug, Relenza™, and could open a new era for insect pest control, says project leader, CSIRO's Dr Paul Savage.

"CSIRO used the approach of looking at the molecular structure of the 'flu virus to find a way to block it from working and thus create the 'flu drug. We're now looking at using the same technique to beat insect pests," Dr Savage says.

The project has just been awarded a $1 million AusIndustry Start Grant by the Commonwealth Government.

The new research is based on ecdysone, an insect hormone that regulates the moulting process. The hard carapace or shell cannot grow as the insect grows, so it has to be shed at certain stages during the normal life cycle.

Once the scientists have described the structure of receptors on the hormone for certain insect pests they will be able to design molecules to block the hormone from working. This will mean that the insect fails to moult and dies.

"Because the structure of the receptors varies from one insect species to another, the new agents can be targeted to specific pests such as flies or plant sucking bugs," Dr Savage says.

"This will have considerable safety and environmental benefits because the new products will not affect anything other than the target insects. Humans, mammals, birds or most other insect groups will not be affected."

The new agents will be more efficient and therefore will require lower applications of pesticide. It will also be quicker to develop and register the new agents.

"These new agents will also overcome resistance problems - pests become resistant to chemical pesticides over time. It will be very difficult for insects to develop a resistance to these new agents as the target site is fundamental to their lifecycle," Dr Savage says.

Dr Savage says that the issue of controlling pests is extremely important for Australia and the world. Over the last 40 years the total area of land under crops has not changed much, but the output has trebled. Much of this has been accomplished by the use of chemical pesticides.

"If we are to maintain the high crop yields we need to constantly keep ahead of pests," he says.

"Our work will not only benefit us, with crop pests a worldwide problem there is a strong potential for foreign earnings from our discoveries," he says.

Both the markets for crop and animal protection are worth billions of dollars a year, with some products commanding sales exceeding $100 million.

The project is a collaboration between CSIRO Molecular Science, Dunlena Pty Ltd and the Biomolecular Research Institute.