Fascinating approach to rodenticide contraception, that is a cool way to galvanize a search for the solution. Does this mean you have analyzed the current contraceptives and feel that they fall short? Senestech has a new product called Evolve and Wisdom Goodworks has a product called Goodbites. Is it possible that either of these could already fit the criteria needed to manage rodent populations?
It’s not that the products currently available fall short in the sense that we believe they definitely don’t work — they do hold a lot of promise. But the results of the pilot projects that have been done so far do not provide sufficient data for us to know exactly how to use them on a wide scale as a replacement for rodenticides, nor is there sufficient data yet about their effects on welfare. So there are still some knowledge gaps that require robust, third-party research to identify the most effective products; the most effective ways to apply them to large, wild populations; and how to measure their effects on welfare. It’s possible that the Open Innovation competition will lead to some of those questions being answered for established products, or result in a new product for which some of those questions are answered in the early R&D stages.
Agreed, there are still questions to be addressed about the existing field of contraceptives. I’m glad to see there has been innovation, and I hope the work continues!
Fascinating approach to rodenticide contraception, that is a cool way to galvanize a search for the solution. Does this mean you have analyzed the current contraceptives and feel that they fall short? Senestech has a new product called Evolve and Wisdom Goodworks has a product called Goodbites. Is it possible that either of these could already fit the criteria needed to manage rodent populations?
It’s not that the products currently available fall short in the sense that we believe they definitely don’t work — they do hold a lot of promise. But the results of the pilot projects that have been done so far do not provide sufficient data for us to know exactly how to use them on a wide scale as a replacement for rodenticides, nor is there sufficient data yet about their effects on welfare. So there are still some knowledge gaps that require robust, third-party research to identify the most effective products; the most effective ways to apply them to large, wild populations; and how to measure their effects on welfare. It’s possible that the Open Innovation competition will lead to some of those questions being answered for established products, or result in a new product for which some of those questions are answered in the early R&D stages.
Agreed, there are still questions to be addressed about the existing field of contraceptives. I’m glad to see there has been innovation, and I hope the work continues!