REENFORCE at the 9th Molecular Insect Science Conference!

On 27 April 2026, the Foundation for Research and Technology — Hellas (FORTH) represented the REENFORCE project at the 9th Molecular Insect Science Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — one of the most prestigious international gatherings in the field of molecular entomology and insect biology.

A Joint Presentation with NextGenBioPest

FORTH presented a poster entitled "NextGenBioPest and REENFORCE: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Low-Risk Pest Management", showcasing the complementary and mutually reinforcing work of two sister Horizon Europe projects. The poster highlighted how REENFORCE and NextGenBioPest are together building a new generation of scientific tools, methodologies and practical approaches for the sustainable management of agricultural pests — reducing reliance on conventional synthetic pesticides while maintaining effective crop protection.

NextGenBioPest focuses on the development of novel biological control agents, RNA-based pesticides, low-risk chemicals and plant resistance inducers for the management of the most difficult-to-control arthropod pests and pathogens. REENFORCE, meanwhile, works to strengthen the human capital and research excellence needed to develop, assess and deploy these next-generation solutions across Europe. Together, the two projects represent a powerful and coherent research agenda for the sustainable transformation of European crop protection.

Engaging the Global Scientific Community

The Molecular Insect Science Conference, organised in partnership with Elsevier, is an international platform that brings together leading scientists from across the fields of insect molecular biology, genomics, chemical ecology and pest management. By presenting at this conference, FORTH was able to introduce the REENFORCE project and its objectives to a global research audience operating at the very frontier of insect science — a community whose expertise is directly relevant to the development of bio-based and low-risk crop protection solutions.

The poster generated meaningful scientific exchange with researchers from institutions around the world, reinforcing REENFORCE's commitment to engaging with the broader international scientific community and to positioning its research within the global conversation on sustainable pest management.