What is it about?
Describes efforts to achieve control of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in the Arava (Araba) Valley along the international boundary between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan using sterile insects. Sterile insects were purchased and shipped from Guatemala to Israel where the insects were emerged, then loaded into an airplane for release over Israeli and Jordanian settlements.
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Why is it important?
This multi-year project demonstrated that effective control of the Mediterranean fruit fly could be achieved along an international boundary using sterile insects. As a result of international collaboration among the parties, both countries greatly benefitted from more effective pest control by increasing agricultural production and exportation of pest-free, high-quality fruits and vegetables to local and international markets.
Perspectives
This project promoted goodwill and understanding among the parties of both countries. More importantly, it opened doors to construction of a privately-owned mass production facility for rearing and sterilizing Mediterranean fruit flies in the region. Apart from the use of sterile insects, technicians learned how to monitor for exotic tephritid species not known to be present and develop a rapid response capability to detect, contain, suppress, and eradicate such threats.
Patrick Gomes
United States Department of Agriculture
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Sterile insect technique (SIT) in the near east — a transboundary bridge for development and peace, Crop Protection, September 2000, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/s0261-2194(00)00097-1.
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