A technology initially aimed at the application of biodefenses for the biological control of agricultural pests could be used in urban environments to help stop the proliferation of mosquitoes that transmit disease-causing viruses, such as Aedes aegypti.
Developed by the company Birdview, located in São Manuel, in the interior of São Paulo, with support of the FAPESP Innovative Research in Small Businesses Program (PIPE), the solution aroused the interest of companies producing Aedes aegypti sterile products in Brazil to help eradicate diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and zika.
“By participating in the latest edition of the High Technology Entrepreneurship Training Program [PIPE Empreendedor] we identified some companies producing Aedes aegypti sterile plants interested in partnering with us to release the insect in urban areas”, says Ricardo Machado co-founder of the startup.
The technology developed by the company within the scope of BIOTA-FAPESP Program consists of a modular release and packaging system, integrated with drones, which performs the controlled release of adult insects in demarcated regions, minimizing damage and induced stress.
In the field, technology allows insects to be released onto crops to combat agricultural pests that are their natural enemies. In urban areas, the solution can be used to release Aedes aegypti male and sterile to mate with female mosquitoes – which bite and transmit disease-causing viruses and mate once in a lifetime. In this way, it is possible to reduce the insect population, experts estimate.
In eight years of operation, the company has already carried out more than 15 thousand flights to release biodefensive products, on more than 1 million hectares. Among its customers are the São Martinho, São Manuel and Suzano plants.
The mosquito release project is still experimental and the company is trying to form partnerships with sterile insect breeders, who would bear the costs of the service. The values and time needed for the intervention to take effect are being evaluated.
“The solution can also be used to sow seeds to restore forests,” says Machado.
PIPE Entrepreneur
The company Birdview was one of the participants in the 25th edition of the High Technology Entrepreneurship Training Program (PIPE Empreendedor).
The results of the technological and business validation obtained during the 12 weeks of technological training achieved by it and 20 other participating companies were presented at an event held in December at FAPESP.
One of the main objectives of PIPE Empreendedor is to encourage the university to get closer to the market. To this end, in the opinion of Cátia Favale, program coordinator, it is essential that participating startups validate the project with an attractive model for the market.
“We want to transform efforts into businesses in which everyone can benefit from greater tax collection, job creation, income and more economic and social development,” he said.
“Today, PIPE Empreendedor is considered one of the main training programs for business generation in São Paulo, due to the training of its coordinators, monitoring of mentoring, approach and methodology”, he highlighted Anapatrícia Morales Vilha member of the Deputy Coordination of Research for Innovation at FAPESP.