A French biotechnology firm is deploying millions of sterile male tiger mosquitoes across Europe to combat invasive species responsible for transmitting dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Terratis currently produces 1.5 million sterile males weekly at its Montpellier facility for release in affected neighborhoods.
The initiative utilizes the sterile insect technique, a non-GMO and chemical-free biological control method. Technicians separate male mosquitoes, which do not bite, and sterilize them using X-rays. When released into the wild, these males mate with females but produce no offspring, gradually suppressing local populations.
France is among the first nations to transition this technology from laboratory research to commercial-scale deployment. While dozens of similar projects exist globally, Terratis aims to increase production capacity to 40 million sterile males per week within two years. Public health officials view this biological intervention as a critical long-term strategy against expanding vector-borne disease threats across the continent.