From a report submitted by Ezra Ravins

Australia has included in the P2K budget since 1995, support for the Arava R&D Ecological and Environmental Station. One of the program's is an exciting experiment to clear the entire region of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, using environmental friendly means. The project is called "The Arava Medfly Eradication Project" and is intended to be a joint project with Jordan.

Recently, a meeting took place at the offices of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna with the participation of representatives from Jordan and the Palestinian Authority who have expressed and interest in eradicating the same pest from citrus orchards in the Gaza strip. There were other participating countries from the region.

The Medfly is a unique pest, not only in Israel but worldwide. It attacks over 260 fruit varieties including all deciduous fruits, subtropical and citrus fruit and fruity vegetables. Infested fruits decay, fall off the trees and cannot be marketed. The pest is infamous in its ability to spread and adapt to various climatic conditions.

Since it is a quarantined pest in countries that do not harbour it, important export markets such as Japan and the USA prevent or restrict import of fresh agricultural produce from Israel.

Conventional warfare is carried out by massive use of pesticide applications. They are effective, but at the same time create environmental problems. A new approach to the control of that pest in Israel is being tested and implemented in the Arava valley, between the Dead and the Red Seas, in all agricultural and urban settlements.

The aim of the project is to sterilise male flies and release them from airplanes over the area. The first release of sterile flies, purchased from the medfly factory in Madeira, was carried out in December 1997. Releases continue at a rate of 6 million males per week for 18 months. To date 250 million sterilised male flies have been released. At the end of the first year, the results were positive and some markets have opened up to the Arava.

Hopefully, this Project will eventually clear the entire region and the Near East of the pest and bring the neighboring countries in close cooperation towards mutual benefits.