Claudia Sheinbaum opens US‑Mexico sterile‑fly plant in Chiapas

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, inaugurated a binational sterile‑fly production facility in Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas. The plant, built in 12 months, will release up to 100 million sterile insects each week using the sterile‑insect technique (TIE) to combat the New World screwworm (gusano barrenador) that threatens livestock in Mexico, the United States and Central America. The project is financed jointly by Mexico (≈ US$61 million) and the United States, which added an extra US$83.8 million, bringing total investment to about US$144.8 million. Sheinbaum thanked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and President Donald Trump for the support and emphasized cooperation over confrontation.

During a three‑day tour of Chiapas, Sheinbaum also oversaw the delivery of homes under the “Vivienda para el Bienestar” program, handing out 48 new houses and related documents. She highlighted that the housing initiative contributes roughly 1 % of Mexico’s GDP, aims to build 1.8 million homes nationwide, and will benefit around 30 million people.

The plant is part of a broader regional effort that includes a similar facility in Panama, targeting food‑security and animal‑health challenges that cross borders.