Hi⇒l ghowLandtransportationLandtransportation3. Discussion Fig. 6 Scheme for RIFA-repellent transportation using mAITC. 113 Microencapsulated wasabi for preventing Solenopsis invicta invasions As described above, mAITC demonstrated sufficient abilities in preventing RIFA from entering cargo in tests using actual sea transport containers. Our results suggest that mAITC is an encouraging technique for preventing the unintentional introduction of RIFA from abroad. Also, mAITC is expected to be effective against various other invasive alien species that may pose a threat in the future (Tsao et al., 2002; Worfel et al., 1997; Wu et al., 2009). The proven effectiveness of mAITC against a wide range of organisms is a significant advantage for its broader application. In Japan, for example, a cumulative total of 135 cases of RIFA invasion have been continually observed since 2017, with the number of cases showing an increasing trend annually since 2023 (Ministry of the Environment, Japan, 2024). Under this trend, the development of technologies for early detection and control has been advancing. For instance, the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, which enables the rapid identification of ant species by detecting species-specific genes, has been established (Nakajima et al., 2019). Additionally, comparative studies on the effectiveness of insecticides for eradicating RIFA have been conducted, with fipronil and pyriproxyfen, which have proven efficacy, being used as emergency control agents (Sakamoto et al., 2021, 2023). Furthermore, a technique has been developed to eliminate invasive alien ants found in containers after unloading using a one-push pyrethroid aerosol (Sasaki et al., 2019). However, despite these measures, RIFA invasion cases have continued to be observed each year (Ministry of the Environment, Japan, 2024). There is always concern about RIFA entering the country undetected during quarantine. In this context, the use of mAITC to prevent RIFA brought into containers from infiltrating the cargo has significant value as a preventive measure to stop infestations at their source. A key challenge for the future adoption of mAITC will be reducing the costs of its usage. Providing incentives or rewards by governments worldwide for initiatives aimed at preventing the invasion of alien species, such as the use of mAITC, has the potential to significantly accelerate the adoption and implementation of such measures. Also we are hopeful that as the number of customers requesting mAITC-based transport increases, it will become possible to lower the unit cost. Additionally, on a smaller scale, we have successfully maintained a high concentration of AITC gas for extended periods by covering cardboard boxes with gas barrier films (Hashimoto et al., 2022). Such packaging innovations are also expected to contribute to cost reduction. The current RIFA invasion is expected to increase further due to the growth and acceleration of international logistics. This is likely to apply even to countries where RIFA has not yet established itself. In 2022, RIFA establishment was confirmed for the first time in Europe, in Italy (Menchetti et al., 2023). To prevent the future invasion and establishment of RIFA, we believe that the use of mAITC will be an effective method (Fig. 6). Acknowledgements We are deeply grateful to Hui-Min Lin, CEO of Monsters’ Argotech in Taiwan, and other members of Monsters’ Agrotech, as well as Dr. Ron-Nan Huang from the National Taiwan University, for their invaluable assistance in securing experimental fields in Taiwan. We RIFArepellentClosingcontainerOpeningcontainerRIFArepellentandfumigationportseaportmAITCpackingshippingAITCconcentration・high⇒PreventingRIFAinvasionsUnloadingSea transportationAITCconcentrationdecreasesduetodiffusionduringtransportation.Exportingcountry(RIFAestablished）Importingcountry(RIFA-free)AITCconcentration・low⇒Noeffect
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