AI-Enhanced CRISPR Solutions to Climate-Resilient Pest Management of Spodoptera frugiperda, Bactrocera dorsalis, and Maruca vitrata in the Nigerian Guinea Savannah

Climate change is becoming a great challenge to sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional control methods are becoming ineffective against high-risk pests such as Spodoptera frugiperda , Bactrocera dorsalis , and Maruca vitrata . To overcome such challenges, we created an AI-CRISPR approach that combines real-time insect monitoring, climate-adaptive gene targeting, and field-tested suppression measures.The study utilised climatic modeling, host-pest phenology mapping, and population genomics to identify stable gene targets in life stages and climatic stress conditions. CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9) constructs were developed to break the fundamental gene controlling reproduction (vitellogenin), host detection (odorant-binding proteins), and thermotolerance, enhancing detection of pests by 88 percent and decreasing the use of pesticides by 35 percent.Simulated climate stress knockouts on specific traits mitigated oviposition of S. frugiperda by 72%, B. dorsalis fruit infestation by 65% and M. vitrata larval mortality by 81%. In Abuja and Makurdi, field trials demonstrated that population reduction of pests was at 83.4, 75.1, and 697.7 percent, respectively, and this resulted in an increase in the yield of crops by 28 percent and also a reduction of 40 percent in post-harvest losses. AI models forecast that the resurgence of the pest will occur by 61 percent after 2040–2050.The research constructed an AI-CRISPR-IPM pipeline, which can bolster climate resilience, diminish chemical reliance, and fit into local agriculture frameworks, providing an environmentally viable answer to African food security in a world that is warming.