EFSA recently prohibited 75% of insecticides to account for their toxicity and ecotoxicity. Moreover, the spread of insecticide resistance and invasion of Europe by new tropical vectors and pests require the development of alternative biological techniques. Recently, we hypothesized that shifting the vision of the sterile male from a sexual competitor only to a specific transporter of active biocides to the targeted female might boost the impact of the sterile insect technique (SIT). Here we want to demonstrate this concept using three biocides: Pyriproxifen, Bacillus thuringiensis and a Densovirus against the Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Pyriproxifen will also be tested against tsetse and fruit flies. We will test the technology both in the laboratory and at an operational scale and model the relative impacts of SIT and boosted-SIT on the dynamics of the targeted population. Moreover, we will compare the evolutionary response of the target population to these different control pressures (multiple lethal mutations, multiple lethal mutations + biocides), for three different biocides and three demographic strategies. This will generate breakthrough knowledge on the transmission of biocides and pathogens in insects and the sustainability of genetic control, provide a new control technique for mosquitoes, and improve the cost-effectiveness of SIT in tsetse and fruit flies. We will have to address technical issues associated to mass rearing, sterilization, sex separation and aerial release of mosquitoes as well as regulatory issues required for releasing sterile males coated with bioicides.

MARIBE is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to unlock the potential of multi-use of space in the offshore economy (also referred to as Blue Economy). This forms part of the long-term Blue Growth (BG) strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole; something which is at the heart of the Integrated Maritime Policy, the EU Innovation Union, and the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable growth. Within the Blue Economy, there are new and emerging sectors comprising technologies that are early stage and novel. These are referred to as Blue Growth sectors and they have developed independently for the most part without pursuing cooperation opportunities with other sectors. MARIBE investigates cooperation opportunities (partnerships, joint ventures etc.) for companies within the four key BG sectors in order to develop these companies and their sectors and to promote the multi-use of space in the offshore economy. The sectors are Marine Renewable Energy, Aquaculture, Marine Biotechnology and Seabed Mining. MARIBE links and cross-cuts with the Transatlantic Ocean Research Alliance and the Galway Statement by reviewing the three European basins (Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Baltic) as well as the Caribbean Basin. The project begins with an assessment of the current Blue Growth economy. A socio-economic study of the various Blue Growth sectors will be undertaken. Existing business models will be mapped according to best practice methodology, cognisant of their value chains. The technical and non-technical challenges of the business will be identified and proposals made for their mitigation. Key FP7 projects that focus on multi-use of space and multi-use platforms will also be assessed. The consortium will draw on this study to identify key opportunities for synergistic collaboration. It will examine 24 sectoral combinations in total and 12 of those with high potential will be developed further. To do this, MARIBE will work with selected EU-funded consortia (particularly those involved in the Oceans of Tomorrow projects) to develop cross-sectoral projects. It will also work with a range of academic and industry partners to develop projects within 5 additional sectoral combinations that present potential for synergistic collaboration. The MARIBE partners will take a hands-on approach to developing collaboration, brokering partnerships where necessary and assisting with the creation of the business plans and implementation plans required to secure investment for these 12 projects.