Dynamic timelines required for development of new insect genetic pest control technologies.

Modern tools in genetic engineering are enabling the development of diverse and exciting strategies for the genetic control of pest insects. This technological development takes time. Communicating where along the developmental timeline a nascent technology exists, and how long the technology might take to reach the next stage, is important for managing expectations between key stakeholders. Importantly, while the key stages in technology development can be standardized with different metrics or stage-gates, the residence time that different technologies will require at each stage is not consistent across technologies. In this perspective, we use the Technology Readiness Level (TRLs) metric for genetic pest control. We give examples of how different genetic pest control strategies used in insects have predictable and unique challenges at different stages of technology maturation. "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." – Anthony Oettinger [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]