Comment faire sortir l’insecte stérile du laboratoire ?

Abstract

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a promising alternative to reduce the need for insecticides against mosquitoes and agricultural pests. However, its implementation in France is difficult because the existing sociotechnical system is not yet compatible with this innovation. The use of SIT would imply rethinking and building a new pest management paradigm. This article studies the different organizations between humans and non-humans that characterize the stages of development of SIT inside and outside of the laboratories, from the birth of the insects to their possible commercialization. This article shows that the implementation of SIT requires a stabilized organization between actants such as sterile insects, scientists, farmers and residents, public actors, wild insects, and firms. As there is not yet such organization, SIT is developed by scientists trying to guess the needs and expectations of future users: these anticipations highly influence the sociotechnical choices made by researchers inside and outside the laboratories.

Keywords

• Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)
• bio-objectification
• STS
• techno-scientific promise
• ANT
• biocontrol