Neuquén and Río Negro launch sterile insect program to protect fruit production

Authorities in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro have launched a new season of sterile insect releases to protect regional fruit production from the fruit fly plague. The program, coordinated through the Fundación Barrera Zoofitosanitaria Patagónica (Funbapa), involves releasing approximately 36 million sterile male flies per week, totaling nearly one billion insects per season.

The technique involves releasing sterile males that mate with fertile females to prevent offspring, reducing the need for chemical insecticides. This sanitary strategy is vital for maintaining the international status of the Patagonia region as a fruit fly-free zone, a designation held since 2005. This status is essential for the export of pears, apples, and cherries to major markets such as China and the United States.

Officials, including Neuquén’s Secretary of Production and Industry Diego García Rambeaud, emphasized the need for coordinated public policies and national support to protect irrigation systems, drainage, and productive land from urbanization and climate challenges. The operation relies on pupae transported from Mendoza, which are matured and distributed via aircraft and ground vehicles.