Oxitec Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Wolbachia Mosquito Production Facility in Brazil Capable of Protecting Up To 100 Million People Threatened by Dengue
PRESS RELEASE
Oxitec Breaks Ground on World’s Largest Wolbachia Mosquito Production Facility in Brazil Capable of Protecting Up To 100 Million People Threatened by Dengue
Oxitec’s new state-of-the-art production facility will make Wolbachia Replacement Technology (WRT), which is a safe, sustainable solution proven to reduce mosquitoes’ ability to transmit dengue, available to millions more people in Brazil and globally.
Adding WRT to Oxitec’s world-first dengue mosquito-specific suppression technology Aedes do Bem™ establishes an unprecedented suite of solutions appropriate for communities, governments, businesses, and homeowners.
3 April 2025, Campinas, Brazil – Oxitec Ltd, a global leader in biological pest control, has broken ground in Brazil on the world’s largest Wolbachia mosquito production facility. As dengue cases surge worldwide, this facility will supply Brazil and other affected regions across Latin America and the Asia-Pacific.
In response to the World Health Organization’s call for expanded access to WRT, Oxitec launched the Sparks™ platform in 2024. Designed to scale WRT production rapidly, the new Sparks™ facility in Brazil aims to protect up to 100 million people annually, a major step towards Oxitec’s mission of protecting more than 1 billion people from dengue by 2040.
WRT is safe, sustainable and has been proven to significantly reduce dengue transmission by the Aedes aegypti mosquito by replacing them with counterparts that carry Wolbachia bacteria. The presence of this bacteria effectively reduces mosquitoes’ ability to transmit dengue and other viral diseases. With years of proven success in pilots by universities and governments, the technology is now ready for global commercial deployment.
Sparks™ leverages Oxitec’s proven infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and implementation systems to accelerate supply and reduce costs. Oxitec’s groundbreaking Friendly™ Aedes technology – the world’s first commercially scaled mosquito-based suppression technology – is already protecting communities, businesses, schools, hospitals and other customers across Brazil seeking effective mosquito control.
Oxitec CEO Grey Frandsen highlighted “This new state-of-the-art facility marks a major leap forward in making Wolbachia mosquito technology affordable and accessible to governments in Brazil and worldwide. We’re proud to help standardize and scale this life-saving solution globally.”
Oxitec Brazil’s Managing Director, Dr Natalia Ferreira, added “Like we did with Aedes do Bem™, and once approved by regulators, we will start in Brazil—delivering reliable, rapid support to cities on the frontlines of the dengue crisis.”
ENDS
About Oxitec
Oxitec is the world’s leader in sustainable biological solutions to the world’s largest pest threats for human health and food security. The first to market and first to achieve successful commercialization of targeted, self-limiting species-specific pest solutions, Oxitec is now leveraging its global platform to advance diversified solutions to critical public health and food security challenges around the world. Driven by a team comprised of 15 nationalities and with strong partners, collaborators and distributors in multiple countries and markets, Oxitec is leading the global transition to sustainable pest management.
Oxitec welcomes all media enquiries.
press@oxitec.com
Sparks™ website: sparking-joy.com