President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated a sterile-fly biofactory in Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, this week to combat the barrenador worm [1].
The facility is critical for the Mexican economy because the parasite threatens cattle health and restricts the ability to export livestock to the U.S. [2].
The biofactory serves as a biological shield designed to eliminate the screw-worm parasite by introducing sterile insects into the wild population [3]. This technique prevents the flies from reproducing, which eventually crashes the pest population and clears the land for safe animal husbandry [3].
According to government data, the plant will produce up to 100 million sterile flies per week [4]. These insects will be released across targeted regions to ensure the eradication of the worm, and the restoration of livestock health [4].
Sheinbaum said the project is a joint effort to reinforce the fight against the parasite and strengthen food security within Mexico [2]. The inauguration occurred at the end of June [5] as part of a broader strategy to secure trade corridors with the U.S. livestock market [2].
By removing the biological threat, Mexico aims to revive the volume of cattle exports that have been hampered by the presence of the worm [2]. The facility in Chiapas represents the primary operational hub for this eradication campaign [1].
“The plant will produce up to 100 million sterile flies per week.”
The establishment of the biofactory signals a strategic shift toward biological pest control to maintain critical trade relations with the U.S. By utilizing the sterile insect technique, Mexico is attempting to resolve a sanitary barrier that directly impacts its agricultural GDP and regional food security.
