M3 Agriculture Technologies has secured a $1 million federal grant to develop an X-ray-based approach to insect pest management.

The company will conduct a project on the use of X-rays instead of gamma radiation to sterilize codling moths, which are major threats to apples, pears and walnuts.

The technology should translate directly to the navel orangeworm, which is the most destructive pest for almonds and pistachios and harms citrus.

The two invasive species pose problems for West Coast agriculture and the region’s economy.

“Invasive species are currently responsible for upwards of 40% of annual food production losses,” said Nathan Moses-Gonzales, M3 CEO.

The sterile insect technique reduces the need for pesticides and is certified organic, but currently relies on radioactive sources.

Switching to X-rays would be more environmentally friendly, limiting impacts on other beneficial species.

It would also eliminate safety and security risks posed by radioactive sources and cost far less, which could make sterile insect technique more widely available in countries with limited resources.

“You can do the sterilization with X-rays and we’re going to be the first company to demonstrate it as a large commercial application,” said Derek Bell, M3 business development manager and drone pilot.

“Somebody needs to start developing at this scale, and this does have worldwide applications,” he added.

Bell said sterile insect technique has been shown to drop the population of codling moth by more than 90% over two to three years.

With the technique, millions of infertile bugs are released into targeted environments to control their populations.

“They go out and mate and can’t produce offspring,” Bell said.

M3 typically uses drones to release 800 infertile codling moths per acre each week for 20 weeks, he said.

Drones combine the safety and cost effectiveness of a ground release with the benefits of releasing by air.

Bell said the company was exploring using modular buildings at or near orchards to sterilize the insects and then release them.

The grant is from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Radiological Security. That office works with Sandia National Laboratories to identify partners that support the transition to non-radioisotopic irradiation technologies.

M3 is based in Omak, Wash., but is establishing a footprint in Fresno, Calif. The company has fewer than 10 employees who work throughout the country, but also relies on contractors.

M3 launched the first commercial sterile insect release program in the United States in Washington.

In 2017, M3 was named small business contractor of the year by the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service for its research with drones.