AN Oxfordshire business is one of 39 "visionary companies" worldwide named as technology pioneers by the World Economic Forum.

Insect-born killer diseases such as dengue fever could be wiped out and pests such as locusts could be controlled with the technique, developed by Oxitec, of Milton Park, near Abingdon.

It involves releasing sterile male insects to mate with females, preventing them from reproducing.

Oxitec - short for Oxford Insect Technologies - is an Oxford University spin-out which grew from a conversation between molecular biologist Luke Alphey and entomologist David Kelly, in the zoology department at Parks Road.

Dr Alphey said: "The recognition as a technology pioneer demonstrates that we have a technology that can be successfully applied in pest control with the potential to make a real difference to people's lives, both in public health and agriculture globally."

The 39 companies have been invited to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 23-27 and another meeting in Tianjin, People's Republic of China next September.

World Economic Forum nominations are given to companies that tackle global issues on health and economy. Previous winners have included Internet pioneers Google, Mozilla and Napster.