Mendoza will provide sterile flies to Bolivia – Together

Mendoza will export, through the Institute of Health and Agricultural Quality of Mendoza (Iscamen), 162 million male flies sterilized in Bolivia to fight the Mediterranean fly, reported by the Institution.

As of this month, the supply of 162 million sterile male insects to Bolivia will begin, the biological material will be delivered for 54 weeks at a rate of 3 million per week, they announced at the 39th. Institute.

They explained that the Mediterranean fly affects the fruits because the larvae that it lays feed on the fruit pulp, which causes its early fall and generates significant losses in the area.

These flies – which are sterilized males – that will be sold to Bolivia are released by fumigation and cause an interruption of the life cycle because they can not inseminate the female.

"This is the first country where we export our biological material, it is a first boost for the possibility of assisting this type of material with different countries that have already requested, such as Turkey or Chile ", said Iscamen Group President Alejandro Molero, about this opening

As part of the technical assistance program provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to various institutions and organizations around the world, sterile insects have been provided to the National Health Service for Agriculture and Health. food security of Bolivia.

In this bidding process, the production of sterile Mendoza insects has been competed with by other international production plants and has finally been awarded.

"Today, we produce more than 450 million sterile insects per week and in compliance with the highest quality standards in the world," said Molero.

In addition to the export of sterile insects, technical support from the province will also be put in place so that this technique can be applied and developed properly in Bolivia.

Currently, the production of Bioplanta Santa Rosa exceeds 400 million people per week; Of which 23 million are sent to participate in the pest control program under development in Patagonia.

Patagonia, the Southern Oasis and the Uco Valley of Mendoza are internationally recognized as free from this pest.

Report by Laura Carbonari.