Novoclade, Inc.

Novoclade, Inc., doing business as Novoclade Inc., is a for-profit organization registered to receive federal government awards since May 4, 2016. The company specializes in developing innovative genetic-based insect control technologies aimed at improving pest management with minimal environmental impact. Novoclade's primary focus is on creating genetically modified sterile insects for biocontrol purposes, offering a potentially more effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical insecticides. Their approach is designed to be broadly applicable to various sexually reproducing organisms, with initial efforts targeting the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), a significant agricultural pest. The company's work aims to address the estimated $7 billion in damage caused by insects to global food production annually, despite the use of current control methods.

Through federal grant awards, Novoclade has been actively engaged in research and development projects to advance its genetic engineering capabilities for creating sterile insects for biocontrol applications. In July 2024, the company received a $181,500 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. This grant supports the development of an innovative insect control method using genetically engineered sterile male SWD flies, aiming to simplify the implementation of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Additionally, Novoclade was awarded a Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation in May 2022 for an SBIR Phase II project focused on developing genetically modified sterile insects for biocontrol. This project aims to create a prototype system for controlling SWD and investigate its commercial production potential. The company has also participated as a sub-awardee in a grant led by the Regents of the University of Minnesota, focusing on engineering reproductive barriers to accelerate niche differentiation. These awards demonstrate Novoclade's involvement in cutting-edge genetic research for pest control applications across agricultural and potentially public health sectors, with the potential to expand their technology to address other insects important for public health, such as mosquitoes or ticks, as well as other agricultural pests and invasive species.