Climate change is anticipated to worsen the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. It facilitates the spread of mosquito vectors, viruses and epidemics. There is thus a need to continually innovate and design sustainable solutions to deal with these environmental public health challenges. Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has established a new, highly automated facility that will allow researchers to eventually increase their production capacity of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by more than 10-fold, compared to its previous production facility.

This boost in capacity is critical for NEA’s plans to scale up Project Wolbachia – Singapore, in preparation for future deployment of the novel vector control technology. The new facility, located at Techplace II in Ang Mo Kio, was officially opened on 2 December 2019 by Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR).

NEA’s Project Wolbachia involves the release of male Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to suppress the urban Aedes aegypti mosquito population. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika in Singapore. When the released male Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti mosquitoes mate with urban female Aedes aegyptimosquitoes that do not carry Wolbachia, the resulting eggs do not hatch. Over time, continued releases of male Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are expected to bring about a gradual reduction in the urban Aedes aegypti mosquito population, and hence lower the risk of dengue transmission. Read more about this project here. 

5006 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5 Techplace II

The vegetarian eatery Greendot has opened a new outlet at Westgate Mall.

Founded in 2011, GreenDot was awarded the Spring Ace Start Up Fund to set up their Green Fast Food concept in schools to change the boring and unappealing stereotype that people have of vegetarian food.

With the belief that eating has a greater purpose, they help you make differences one meal at a time. Whether it's because you want to boost your health, combat climate change, or feel good from eating a meal, choosing a meal at GreenDot is your best way to make this positive impact.

They hope to bring you more delicious meat-free cuisines that can excite your tastebuds and also satisfy your daily nutritional needs.