Since 1996 we are pioneers at the implementation of wide – area mosquito control projects and we continue to innovate.
25 years course
STARTING FROM THESSALONIKI
…since 1996 we are steadily active in the field of environmental applications all over Greece, with our main focus being the implementation of innovative wide – area mosquito control programs. By investing in applied research and by utilizing modern scientific breakthroughs, we develop innovative solutions to major problems related to public health, agriculture and the environment. Towards this goal, more than5 PhD scientists, 5 Data Analysts/Computer Engineers, 20 Project Managers and 150 Field Technicians across the country are involved.
The corporate structure include:
- Administration and financial management of the company, with the respective supporting departments and external partners.
- Mosquito control department responsible for the implementation of the respective projects
- Precision Agriculture department that conducts relevant research and at the same time provides services to the modern Greek farmer
- Research and Development department responsible for the implementation of research projects.
- Technical support team for logistic equipment (logistics)
- Data analysis team, with scientists specialised in the analysis of big data, the use of predictive models and artificial intelligence, using Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team responsible for the conduction of airborne applications, field investigation and remote sensing data collection
- Systems (GIS) and on supporting the company’s digital toolbox
- Drone operators’ team specialised in aerial spraying applications, and in imaging and mapping activities.
Our social contribution…
Our company’s project materialization and implementation have positive impact in the following areas:
- the defence of Public Health, which we approach with a highly professional manner
- Environmental protection by minimizing our environmental footprint and by promoting sustainable practices
- Cultivating a culture of ‘civil society’ through information, awareness-raising and general citizen participation in the issues related to the projects we implement (citizen science; see Mosquito Vision application)
- Public administration, as we contribute to the promotion of mosquito control projects and the training of public officials
- The national economy, to which we contribute through the protection of the tourism product and the country’s reputation as well as through the absorption of European funds
- The local economy as we cooperate with more than 100 suppliers and 30 partners
- Society by employing more than 150 scientists and field technicians and improving the quality of life of citizens
- The public administration, as we defend the benefits of Region – wide and multi-annual mosquito control programmes
- The technological upgrading of the mosquito control object (since 2008, for the first time in Greece, we have implemented electronic monitoring in pest management projects, while from 2021 a single open platform will operate a single open platform for all data on the implementation of the executed regional mosquito control projects)
Chronology
2022
Στην Οικοανάπτυξη σήμερα υποδεχόμαστε με ιδιαίτερη χαρά και περηφάνια τη δημοσιοποίηση της απονομής του βραβείου της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής στο σύστημα EarlY WArning για ασθένειες που μεταδίδονται από τα κουνούπια – EYWA. Η Οικοανάπτυξη συμμετείχε ενεργά στο σχεδιασμό, στην κατασκευή και στην λειτουργία του EYWA και αυτό αποτυπώνεται ξεκάθαρα στις υπηρεσίες που αυτό παρέχει στους τελικούς χρήστες. Αισθανόμαστε πολύ μεγάλη τιμή καθώς το βραβείο αυτό επισφραγίζει την τεχνολογική και επιστημονική μας εξέλιξη την τελευταία πενταετία.
2018
We provide technical support to the World Health Organization – Europe for the reorganization of the mosquito control project in Serbia. After several days of field work a technical report is prepared. We also contribute with our experience to the writing of the WHO manual, published in 2019, entitled «Manual on prevention of establishment and control of mosquitoes of public health importance in the WHO European Region».
2013
Ecodevelopment enters the field of remote sensing, with the development of a pilot diagnostic system for the screening of disease infestations in selected crops. The system based on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with optical, multi-spectral and thermal sensors can deliver spatially localized information at the field, crop zone or even plant level. In the coming years we are formulating a pilot and subsequently commercial Precision Agriculture (PA) service to rice fields, and we participate in relevant exhibitions and conferences.
2012
Since 2012, the company has been implementing the largest vector control projects in Greece (Regions of Central Macedonia and Peloponnese), participating and acting as a “health shield” against various vectors (mosquitoes, fleas, etc.). Starting with the first two-year mosquito control program in the Region of Central Macedonia, in the following years we proceed to the implementation of similar programs in the Regions of Central Macedonia, Western Greece, Crete, Western Macedonia, Peloponnese, etc. with training, and installation of local project teams in each region.
2011
We are commissioned by EODY (former KEELPNO, the Greek National Public Health Organization) to conduct the study titled “Rational mosquito management in Greece” for the needs of which we proceed for the first time with the ecological mapping and assessment of most of the country’s wetlands, while at the same time installing an extensive network of special traps for the surveillance of mosquito abundance. At the same time, we are called upon to deal with a local outbreak of malaria in the municipality of Evrota, belonging in the Peloponnese Region.
2010
This year is a milestone in the history of ECODEVELOPMENT as we are called upon to contribute decisively with our experience and expertise in the response to the epidemic of West Nile virus (a mosquito-borne disease) in the region of Central Macedonia. This disease will end in 2010 with 35 deaths and 262 identified cases and will continue to be a public health hazard in the coming years. Nowadays, the majority of the country’s integrated mosquito control programmes include specific actions against WNV.
2007-2008
For the first time we cross the borders of Greece and implement a two-year mosquito control project in the tourist area of Comporta, Portugal, specifically in its coastal zone, which includes 125,000 acres of wetland and rice paddies. The project is funded by Herdade da Comporta and is being implemented in two phases: an implementation study in 2007 and pilot applications of aerial spraying in 2008.
2003 - 2004
after our successful undertaking in 2003 of the protection of the EU Summit at the Porto Carras Grand Resort, we contribute in the materialization of the “best Olympic games”, Athens 2004, by successfully implementing a thorough vector born disease control programme (rodent, mosquito and other insects) in the urban districts of Athens and the Olympic Facilities.
2001
“ECODEVELOPMENT SA” as it has now been renamed enters the field of pest control in residential areas and immediately occupies a dominant position. Our Pest control services experience continuous growth for over a decade, covering the needs of half of the country’s hospital infrastructures, all the major hotels in Northern Greece as well as a large number of customers in the private sector and the food
1998 -1999
We expand our activity so that our projects include all the rice fields of Greece (Serres and Lamia areas), and we publish the first issue of the magazine “To Δήγμα”. The following year (1999) we undertake mosquito control projects in the peri-urban system and wetlands of Halkidiki and Larissa. In the following years we gradually expand our activity to all the Regions of Central Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia-Thrace.
1997
We carry out the first wide – area mosquito control program since the end of the malaria – free campaign, on 165,000 acres of paddy fields in the plain of Thessaloniki, with significant success.
1996
Two scientists (both with PhD in Biology) and friends, Spyros Mourelatos and Giorge Iatrou become the founding members of the “Environment and Ecodevelopment Ltd” company and undertake a study of mosquito control perspectives in the rice fields of Thessaloniki, introducing for the first time in Greece the environmentally friendly methodology of larvicide.