Júlio Kämpf and Gabriel Colle are in the US to watch presentations on news about research, strategies and talk to experts in the State that has one of the most efficient strategies in the world for preventing diseases and fighting vectors

A closer look at the structure, strategies, and studies that underpin one of the world’s oldest and most effective mosquito control and disease prevention systems. This is the focus of the IBRAVAG‘s mission to the 8th Workshop on Arbovirus Surveillance and Mosquito Control in Saint Augustine, Florida – which began this Tuesday and continues until tomorrow (30). The Brazilian participation takes place with the Brazilian Ag Aviation Institute’s president, Júlio Augusto Kämpf, and the CEO of the entity (and SINDAG), Gabriel Colle.

The focus of the duo is to see up close state-of-the-art to combat disease vectors in the USA, including the combined use of aerial and terrestrial tools, in addition to the list of strategies on the subject in Florida. As well as establishing channels between the two countries to encourage research in Brazilian lands – in this case, with the authorities and Health here. They are also accompanied by consultant Alan McCracken, an Irishman who has lived in the United States for over 20 years and has extensive experience in agricultural aviation in several countries. Even in Brazil, where he lived for eight years and his contributions to the agav industry recently earned him the medal of Brazilian Agricultural Aviation Merit, awarded by SINDAG.

Promoted by the Anastasia Mosquito Control District (AMCD), the Workshop brings the knowledge of more than 80 years of experience in this type of activity in the country. “From day one, the extremely elevated level of professionalism of the US moquito control system was clear. All based on a lot of (and constant) scientific research – which, by the way, has a strong public and private investment in the country”, highlights director Gabriel Colle.

In their impressions on the first day of programming, the Brazilian representatives noted how much Public Health in the United States connected to research from public and private organizations, universities and research centers. In fact, a logical scenario, but still not so common in Brazil – where, for example, prejudice against agricultural aviation (by the government and population) prevents research combining terrestrial strategies and aerial applications, even if only with biological products.

While they continue exchanging ideas with experts and authorities to bring information to encourage research in Brazil, Kämpf and Colle should check out, this Wednesday (29), the international phase of the Workshop. When the highlight will be presentations on research and projects to combat mosquitoes in India, Mali, Taiwan, Thailand and Italy.

PERSONALITIES

Among the authorities and speakers approached by Brazilians on the first day of the event in Florida (this Tuesday), president Kämpf and executive Gabriel Colle spoke with Mark Latham, considered one of the most important international specialists in mosquito control.  The conversation between the Brazilians and Latham was about the challenges of researches in USA. The visitants also asked about mosquito control’ details in Florida and gave the speaker a copy of the Brazilian magazine Aviação Agrícola (edited by IBRAVAG and where Latham was the special interviewee in the 5th edition, in 2019).

The specialist also received from Kämpf an invitation to the Brazilian Agricultural Aviation Congress – scheduled for July 18th to 20th, in Sertãozinho, in the State of São Paulo. “He was very happy with our visit to the event. As for going to our Congress, he said he loved the invitation but, of course, he needs to check his agenda”, commented Colle.

Pictured: Mc Cracken (in checked shirt) with Kämpf  in the audience at the AMCD’s worshop

LATHAM: Colle spoke with the specialist (right), who is one of the world’s greatest authorities on mosquito control and has already been the special interviewee of the Agricultural Aviation magazine, by Ibravag