Forrest Innovations
Leading the Way in Sustainable Solutions

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) continue to pose significant public health challenges, especially in Latin American nations like Brazil. Just a few weeks ago, several cases of locally transmitted malaria were discovered in both Florida and Texas after 20 years without such occurrence in the U.S. This underscores the expansion of the range of the disease carrying mosquitoes.

Government bodies, public institutions, and healthcare agencies have implemented diverse strategies to eradicate MBDs, including source reduction, human-vector contact minimization, and community education.

Effectively combating MBDs such as dengue, malaria, Zika, and chikungunya is a complex task. It demands the development of innovative solutions by life sciences organizations, and the active engagement and participation of communities. These solutions must also adhere to the biosafety regulations mandated by government authorities.

Fortunately, Forrest Innovations, a global leader in the prevention of mosquito-transmitted disease, has emerged victorious in forging a path toward the future of eradicating MBDs.

”NVC can be rapidly deployed across small, medium-sized, and big cities. It is a safe and stateof-the-art biological solution that does not release chemicals and uses only local mosquitoes to prevent mosquito-borne diseases”

It has successfully transitioned from technology development to practical, commercial application of its groundbreaking solution, Natural Vector Control (NVC), for combating the spread of dengue and other arboviruses in epidemic-prone regions.

Forrest Innovations also harbors another unique asset. Its passionate and dedicated team, with several highly talented women in the pivotal leadership roles.

“Our solutions promote an ethical, purposeful, community-benefiting path toward disease prevention and control,” says Deborah Oliveira, biologist, Forrest Innovations. “As women leaders in the biotech space, we feel deeply connected to social programs and recognize our shared responsibility as part of the community.”

In a largely male-dominated industry, this conviction is what inspired the female leaders of Forrest Innovations to script a successful path by building a scalable solution with proven economic viability.

“We use biotechnology to deliver an affordable, environmentally sustainable, and highly efficient solution. Our certified, licensed, and real-world applied NVC has had a tectonic impact in the prevention of dengue and other mosquito-transmitted diseases, especially in Brazil, one of the most highly affected countries in terms of arbovirus transmission,” says Nitzan Paldi, CEO, Forrest Innovations.

Driving Change in Arbovirus Prevention

Forrest Innovations’ NVC offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods, which often rely on harmful chemicals to control the spread of VBDs. Leveraging SIT, it raises large quantities of sterilized male mosquitoes and releases them to mate with females in the wild. Their inability to produce offspring causes a gradual decline in the mosquito population.

The male mosquitoes are sterilized in biofactories created within multiple mobile modular units set up by Forrest Innovations. The Aedes aegypti eggs are locally sourced using ovitraps from epidemic-prone areas. Every day, millions of pathogen-free eggs are hatched. The larvae are then carefully rinsed and nourished in rearing trays until they transform into pupae. Over several years, Forrest developed multiple singular capabilities that facilitate massive production, sterilization and release of sterile male mosquitoes. Stringent quality control measures are implemented for each batch of NVC sterile males to detect and avoid the presence of contaminating females and confirm sterility. These sterile male mosquitoes are released into the intervention areas every week and monitored through ovitraps. The number of NVC sterile male mosquitoes released is based on the size of the area, number of eggs, and number of viable larvae collected at the release sites.

“NVC can be rapidly deployed across small, mediumsized, and big cities. It is a safe and state-of-the-art biological solution that does not release chemicals and uses only local mosquitoes to prevent mosquitoborne diseases,” says Lisiane Poncio, scientist, Forrest Innovations.

NVC is commercially-approved, modular, scalable, and accurate, with up to 95 percent proven disease reduction. Its use in the intervention project conducted in Ortigueira across two epidemiological seasons resulted in a 98.7 percent suppression of live progeny field Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. More importantly, when comparing the region's 2020 and 2022 dengue outbreaks, the postintervention dengue incidence was 97 percent lower compared to control cities. This result is unprecedented in mosquito-borne disease prevention.

Promoting a Healthier World

Forrest Innovations works with clients from the public sector, like healthcare institutions, ancillary health services, and the Federal Ministry of Health, to better monitor the local prevalence of MBDs. It also collaborates with large private companies, communities, and condominiums to help maintain regional health and prevent the spread of diseases.

By doing so, Forrest Innovations has successfully crafted a client-centric and cost-effective solution for large-scale, long-term projects. These projects allow for economies of scale, resulting in better resource allocation and planning over time. By providing a solution accessible to everyone, Forrest Innovations has democratized its vector control method, creating a sense of trust and partnership with clients.

Forrest Innovations stands out for operating social programs in its intervention geographies. These include various activities, such as workshops in schools to engage children in creating a cleaner environment, involving the community in clean-ups, sharing resources, and direct employment of locals in its production facilities.

Through these methods, it constantly strives to improve its offering to adapt to diverse regions and applications. The company has its sights set on expanding the use of NVC to other countries in Latin America as well as the U.S., and in the agritech sector to combat agricultural pest infestations and revolutionize farming practices.

Paving a New Path for Disease Prevention

A foundation of talent, creativity, and passion, combined with the team's diverse backgrounds and expertise, fuel Forrest Innovations’ ability to think beyond conventional boundaries and deliver solutions that surpass expectations.

Forrest Innovations is transforming the female entrepreneurial and life sciences landscape, leaving an indelible mark on society with an unyielding focus on improving lives and making a difference.

Elaine Dos Santos, executive director and COO at Forrest Innovations summarizes this eloquently “In the journey to create positive social impact, our women leaders bring an extraordinary strength to the table. We stand shoulder to shoulder with men, not in competition, but in collaboration, leveraging our innate understanding of the needs of our communities. Together, we forge a path where our leadership stands supreme, driven by empathy and a shared commitment to creating a better world.”