FruitFly Africa Joins International Launch of Moroccan SIT Facility

Agadir, Morocco – FruitFly Africa (FFA) recently represented South Africa at the launch of Morocco’s new sterile insect technique (SIT) facility, an event hosted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and attended by delegates from 17 African countries, Spain, and Austria.

SIT, often described as “birth control for insects,” is an environmentally friendly method of suppressing fruit fly populations by releasing sterilised males into production areas. When these males mate with wild females, no offspring are produced, leading to a steady decline in pest numbers. The method is already in use worldwide to create pest-free areas or regions of low prevalence and is seen as critical to unlocking export opportunities.

FFA manager, Ghian du Toit, said the three-day gathering highlighted both the opportunities and challenges involved in SIT. “These gatherings are crucial for fostering cooperation and assessing new developments,” he noted. “We are very fortunate to have an SIT programme in South Africa. It was clear that many other African nations only dream of this technology and are eager to learn more.”

Delegates attended technical sessions on the fundamentals of SIT, including operational challenges, security, and implementation strategies. A visit to Morocco’s new state-of-the-art facility in Agadir was also included. Despite its modern design, the facility still faces hurdles such as manual sorting of male and female flies—a reminder of the complexity of SIT operations.

South Africa’s SIT facility, based in Stellenbosch and commercialised in 2002, currently produces between 65 and 70 million sterile flies per week. The Department of Agriculture and industry organisations support this programme.

According to FFA, the programme has played a key role in safeguarding South Africa’s fruit industries from various phytosanitary pests, including Mediterranean fruit fly infestations – one of the main threats to exports to markets such as China and Japan.

The Moroccan event also showcased international innovations. In Spain, for example, researchers use ginger root oil to improve production and reduce pupal mortality, while other countries conduct field trials to strengthen quality control. Du Toit said such developments underscore the importance of continuous investment in research to sustain South Africa’s competitive edge.

Delegates also visited a Moroccan citrus enterprise that has significantly reduced its use of chemical treatments through integrated pest management and SIT. The farm has since achieved GlobalGAP certification, which has boosted profitability and demonstrated the commercial value of the technology.

The IAEA has expressed its intention to expand SIT across Africa, with countries like Tanzania eager for adoption as fruit flies destroy more than 60% of local crops. Du Toit emphasised the importance of regional cooperation, warning that infestations do not stop at borders: “If our neighbours have fruit fly infestation, chances are good it is going to spill over to us and impact our crop production.”

FruitFly Africa maintains that further government support and investment are needed to ensure the sustainability and expansion of South Africa’s SIT programme. “FFA has commercial value. We can export sterile insects to other countries, although our prime focus is servicing local producers and protecting South African industries,” Du Toit said.

Main picture caption: Ghian du Toit (FFA) and Amy Collop (FFA) at the new SIT production facility in Ait Melloul, Morocco.