Oxitec and CSIRO launch joint venture to combat invasive pests in Australia

Oxitec, a leader in biological pest control solutions, has launched Oxitec Australia in partnership with the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). This new initiative focuses on combating critical pest threats to public health, food security, and ecosystems in Australia and Oceania.

Australia is facing a significant rise in invasive mosquito species, which have contributed to an increase in diseases such as dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika. The World Health Organization reports that dengue cases in Australia have more than doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year. As a result, Oxitec Australia is deploying its cutting-edge Friendly platform to address this growing public health threat.

Oxitec’s Friendly technology uses non-biting male mosquitoes to mate with wild female counterparts, ensuring the failure of female offspring and reducing mosquito populations. The technology is highly effective in suppressing urban populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector for dengue, by up to 96%. The company’s “just-add-water” Friendly solution, already in use across Brazil, is now under review by Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator for commercial release.

In addition to Aedes aegypti, Oxitec Australia is developing a solution to control Aedes albopictus, or the Asian tiger mosquito, a growing threat to mainland Australia. With funding from CSIRO, the company is working with Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait, a region already impacted by dengue outbreaks, to help deploy this technology.

Grey Frandsen, CEO of Oxitec, emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing pest challenges in collaboration with scientific institutions, local communities, and farmers.

Oxitec Australia is also addressing agricultural threats, particularly the fall armyworm caterpillar, which has impacted Australian crops since its detection in 2020. The company plans to introduce its Friendly fall armyworm solution, which has been commercially approved in Brazil, to help Australian farmers manage this invasive pest. Unlike traditional pesticides, Oxitec’s technology is non-toxic and species-specific, ensuring that beneficial insects such as bees and birds remain unaffected.

Professor Brett Sutton, Director of Health & Biosecurity at CSIRO, highlighted the importance of innovative pest management solutions in light of climate change and pesticide resistance. He noted that the collaboration with Oxitec Australia is a strategic move to combat the increasing threat of invasive species and reduce the health impacts of vector-borne diseases in the region.

The launch of Oxitec Australia represents a significant step in transforming pest management in the region, providing scalable, sustainable solutions that protect public health, support agriculture, and preserve biodiversity.