SBIR Phase I: Long Lasting Organic Formulation to Effectively Manage Blood Sucking Diptera

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a long lasting organic formulation to effectively manage and suppress populations of mosquito vectors of disease. The banning of DDT and other persistent mosquito larvicides several decades ago has created a major gap in vector management that has yet to be effectively filled by generations of environmentally friendly chemicals and formulations that followed. The consequences are tangible to the human population worldwide. We are currently experiencing more pain, suffering, and deaths from mosquito transmitted diseases than when DDT was available. Biological larvicidal formulations have been proven safe and effective in controlling mosquito larvae, with the caveat that they have a very short field life which requires frequent reapplications to sustain control, in turn making them too expensive for adoption by most areawide vector control programs. Because of this, biological larvicidal formulations are seldom used preventatively. This SBIR project will bridge this gap and increase the longevity, and usability, of biological larvicides. Success will result in direct mitigation of soil and waterways pollution commonly associated with conventional pesticides for mosquito control. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are, if this SBIR project is successful, the development of a biological, long lasting larvicidal formulation that will significantly change the way parasitic mosquitoes are managed worldwide, making it much more effective, reducing disease and suffering, and saving lives while significantly reducing non-target effects and environmental pollution. This is a worldwide market opportunity of over $2B/year.