Statewide mosquito eradication using gene drive technology

Develop, field test, and operationalize gene drive technology across the state of Hawaii to control and completely eradicate mosquitos statewide. Mosquitos were introduced to Hawaii within the past 250 years; they are non-native and highly invasive, a nuisance to people, pose serious human health risks, and threaten imminent extinction of multiple native Hawaiian forest bird species. Recent efforts using large scale implementation of incompatible insect techniques have been proven ineffective and incredibly expensive, while gene drive technology has the potential to be a more cost effective method providing major human and wildlife benefits. The state should partner the University of Hawaii and local NGOs working on mosquito control projects on this effort.