News & Highlights

Sterile Insect Technique Success in the Middle East Attracts International Media Attention

Under IAEA Technical Cooperation projects in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with additional extrabudgetary support from USAID's Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) funds, FAO/IAEA technology was transferred for area-wide Mediterranean fruit fly control, including the use of the environment-friendly Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).

As a result of this transboundary collaboration among the three plant protection services there has been good progress in the suppression of this key pest in the Arava/Araba Valley, with exports of green peppers drastically increasing from less than a million USD to over 100 USD.

In view of the success of this medfly SIT project, activities are being expanded into other commercial fruit production areas, and a private sector mass-rearing facility was established in the region for the local production of sterile medflies. Read Full Story »