COPEG

What COPEG does

COPEG (Comisión Panamá – Estados Unidos para la Erradicación y Prevención del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado) is a bilateral international commission jointly established in 1994 by the governments of Panama and the United States and operational since 1998 to eradicate and prevent the New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a parasitic fly whose larvae infest living warm-blooded animals. It maintains the only sterile fly production facility in the world dedicated to this species, located in Pacora, Panama, capable of producing up to 100 million sterile pupae per week under BSL-2 biosecurity protocols, plus a Tocumen International Airport dispersal center and 29 ground work centers across Panama organized into 9 epidemiological zones. Operations also extend to Honduras and Mexico through aerial dispersal centers in Palmerola, Tapachula, and Tuxtla, with strategic consolidation since 2025 toward a new biological barrier at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

The commission's core product is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT): mass rearing of screwworm flies, radiation sterilization of male pupae, aerial dispersal over barrier zones, and complementary ground surveillance via the SIVET network covering screwworm and transboundary diseases such as African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza. Supporting capabilities include the Animal Movement Control (CMA) checkpoints, the Voluntario Honorario community surveillance program, monthly educational newsletters, field days, laboratory diagnostics, and FAO/CAC/IICA-aligned regional training.

COPEG operates as a non-commercial public entity. It does not generate commercial revenue; all operations are funded through the bilateral cooperative agreement with annual work plans and budgets approved by commissioners from both governments. Customer segments are functionally beneficiaries rather than paying clients: livestock producers in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Mexico, and the United States; government agricultural agencies including MIDA, MEF, USDA, and APHIS; veterinary professionals; and pet owners affected by companion-animal cases. The commission is ISO 9001:2015 certified and led jointly by a Panamanian Director General (Dr. Carlos Moreno) and a US Director General (Christina Lohs).

Name

COPEG

Legal name

Comisión Panamá – Estados Unidos para la Erradicación y Prevención del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado

Website

https://copeg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

COPEG is a bilateral Panama-United States commission, established in 1994, that operates the world's only sterile screwworm fly production facility to eradicate and prevent New World Screwworm in Central and North American livestock.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Disease Eradication Services

NAICS

Exterminating and Pest Control Services (561710)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

In2Care/Trap-Based Mosquito Control (Targeted Trapping) (HSAMAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stored Product Pest (SPP) & Commodity Protection (IMAIAHAM)

Keywords

• Screwworm eradication
• Sterile insect technique
• Biological pest control
• Livestock disease prevention
• Animal health surveillance

Headquarters

HQ city

Pacora

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Bilateral Agreement Funding: COPEG operates as an international mission between the United States and Panama funded through a cooperative bilateral agreement. The commission does not generate commercial revenue. Operations are government-funded through contributions from both countries with annual work plans and budgets approved by commissioners from both nations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

COPEG operates a sterile screwworm fly production facility in Pacora, Panama that mass-produces up to 100 million sterile Cochliomyia hominivorax pupae per week, with a Dispersal Center at Tocumen International Airport that completes the insect life cycle and aerially releases the sterile flies over a Permanent Biological Barrier. The organization also runs the SIVET epidemiological surveillance network (29 work centers across Panama), 5+ animal movement control checkpoints, and sanitary education programs for producers. Operations extend through Central America and Mexico via bilateral agreements with regional governments.

Product overview

COPEG (Comisión Panamá-Estados Unidos para la Erradicación y Prevención del Gusano Barrenador del Ganado) operates as a binational biological pest control commission with a unified portfolio centered on the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The core offerings include the Sterile Fly Plant in Pacora (producing up to 100 million sterile pupae weekly), the Dispersal Center at Tocumen International Airport (handling adult fly preparation and aerial release), and the Sistema de Vigilancia de Enfermedades Transfronteriza (SIVET) network for epidemiological monitoring. Supporting services include the Animal Movement Control (CMA) checkpoints, Sanitary Education programs with volunteer watchers, laboratory diagnostics, and educational publications. The organization serves as a permanent biological barrier protecting Central and North American livestock from screwworm infestation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planta de Moscas Estériles (Sterile Fly Production Plant) Mass-rearing facility in Pacora, Panama that artificially replicates the life cycle of Cochliomyia hominivorax under BSL-2 biosecurity protocols and produces up to 100 million sterile screwworm pupae per week for the Sterile Insect Technique eradication program.
• Centro de Dispersión (Dispersal Center) Emergency facility at Tocumen International Airport that receives sterile pupae from the Production Plant and continues the insect life cycle until the adult stage for aerial dispersal over the Permanent Biological Barrier Zone using aircraft equipped with specialized dispersal boxes and computerized navigation.
• Técnica del Insecto Estéril (Sterile Insect Technique / SIT) Biological pest control method involving mass rearing, radiation sterilization, and aerial release of sterile screwworm flies to disrupt wild population reproduction. Proven to achieve a 60-80% reduction in wild screwworm population through sterile male mating and serves as the Permanent Biological Barrier protecting Central and North American livestock.
• Sistema de Vigilancia de Enfermedades Transfronteriza (SIVET) Ground-based epidemiological surveillance system covering 29 work centers throughout Panama (19 in Darien, 3 in Guna Yala, 1 in Colon, 1 in Capira, 1 in Tocumen, 1 in Pacora, 1 in Herrera, 2 in Chiriqui, 1 in Bocas del Toro) divided into 9 epidemiological zones monitoring screwworm and transboundary animal diseases including African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza.
• Control de Movilización de Animales (Animal Movement Control) Animal inspection, review, and verification service at 5 checkpoints throughout Panama (Agua Fria, Platanilla, Loma Bonita, Capira, and Guabala) to prevent screwworm spread through transported livestock, vessels, and vehicles.
• Educación Sanitaria y Programa de Vigilantes Honorarios (Sanitary Education and Volunteer Watcher Program) Community outreach and training program educating producers on screwworm prevention, wound treatment, and animal inspection, while recruiting volunteer agricultural sector participants (Vigilantes Honorarios) to actively participate in surveillance and report suspected cases via WhatsApp hotline (+507 6670-2164).
• Diagnóstico y Tratamiento de Muestras (Diagnostic and Sample Treatment Services) Laboratory diagnostic services and treatment protocols for screwworm infestations in cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, humans, and other warm-blooded animals, including sample identification, collection, and submission procedures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-80% reduction in wild screwworm population through sterile insect releases
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FAO collaborates with COPEG on emergency and crisis management training. Dr. Carlos Moreno, COPEG General Director for Panama, serves as expert facilitator in FAO's 'Emergency and Crisis Management' (GEMP) course in El Salvador, training 30 veterinary doctors from the Salvadoran Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
• Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional coordination body for agricultural affairs. COPEG participated in Mexico City forum coordinated by CAC along with FECALAC, USDA, and IICA to harmonize technical criteria between sanitary authorities, multilateral organizations, and productive sector representatives.
• IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Inter-American organization participating in regional coordination forum with COPEG for screwworm control. Part of multisectoral effort facilitating technical criteria harmonization among sanitary authorities, multilateral organizations, and productive sector representatives.
• URUGUAY Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and FisheriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Five-member technical delegation visited COPEG facilities to learn techniques and experience in screwworm control activities. Also received advisory support for administrative setup and establishment of sterile fly dispersal center to be supplied from COPEG production plant.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Bilateral cooperative agreement signed in 1994 establishing COPEG as the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm in Livestock. USDA, through APHIS, provides technical expertise, funding support, and operational oversight. Operations officially began in 1998. Currently represented by General Director Christina Lohs and Commissioner Michael Watson (APHIS Administrator), Joon Park (ARS Administrator Acting), and Ibrahim Shaqir (Administrator of International Services).
• Government of PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Bilateral partner represented by President Jose Raul Mulino, Minister Roberto Linares (MIDA), Minister Felipe Chapman (MEF), and Samuel Vernaza (President of ANAGAN). Provides governmental oversight, policy direction, and domestic operational support for screwworm eradication activities.
• ANAGAN (National Cattlemen's Association of Panama)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented by President Samuel Vernaza as COPEG Commissioner. Primary livestock producer association providing grassroots connection to cattle producers throughout Panama for surveillance and education activities.
• APANAC (Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOPEG participated in APANAC's 19th National Science Congress (XIX Congreso Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) with research presentation by Dr. Aidamalia Vargas on 'Real-Time Quantification of the tTA Gene in Transgenic Strains DR6 and DR7 of the Screwworm Fly.'

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Anticimex: European-headquartered pest control company with significant presence in Latin America. Comparable to COPEG as a multinational pest control service operator with regional reach across the same geographies.
• Rollins, Inc. (Orkin): Largest commercial pest control operator in North America, providing residential and commercial extermination services. Comparable to COPEG as a major pest control service provider, though focused on urban/structural pests rather than livestock parasites.
• Rentokil Initial: Global commercial pest control and hygiene services provider operating in 90+ countries. Comparable to COPEG as a multinational pest control service entity with cross-border capabilities, though operating commercially rather than as a government mandate.
• USDA APHIS International Services: The US-side partner of COPEG and the primary funder of the screwworm program. APHIS International Services has a broader animal and plant health mandate globally and provides operational and technical oversight to COPEG, making it a natural comparator as the program's institutional sponsor.

Direct peers

• Moscafrut (SAGARPA/IICA Sterile Insect Facility): Operated by Mexico's SENASICA in cooperation with IICA, Moscafrut is the world's largest sterile insect production facility, producing sterile Mediterranean fruit flies. It is directly comparable to COPEG as another government-backed SIT facility employing mass-rearing and aerial release for pest eradication.

Others

• ANAGAN (Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos de Panamá): National cattlemen's association of Panama, represented on COPEG's board. Comparable as a key institutional stakeholder and end-customer advocacy body that COPEG serves through screwworm eradication services.
• FAO/IAEA Joint Centre (Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture): International joint programme that provides technical support, training, and coordination for SIT programs globally, including screwworm. It is comparable as the institutional backbone for SIT methodologies and a key capacity-building partner for COPEG.

Emerging players

• International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe): African-based research organization working on SIT and other biological control methods for tsetse, fruit flies, and mosquitoes. Comparable to COPEG as a research-driven insect control entity using SIT and related technologies against livestock and agricultural pests.
• Oxitec: Biotech company developing genetically modified insects for pest control, including Aedes mosquitoes and agricultural pests. Comparable to COPEG as a technology-driven insect pest control entity, though using transgenic rather than irradiation-based approaches.

Regional players

• SENASICA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria): Mexico's national animal and plant health agency, coordinating the Mexican side of the regional screwworm response and operating the Moscafrut facility. It is comparable as a regional government body with overlapping screwworm and livestock health responsibilities in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about COPEG