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Fruit Fly-Infested Harvest

Why the Fight Against Invasive Pests Matters — and Needs You

22 Apr 2025

They’re smaller than a paperclip, yet their impact is huge. The two invasive fruit fly species, Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera zonata, are advancing towards Europe, driven by climate change and global trade. This isn’t just a problem for farmers — it poses a threat to climate resilience, food security and economic stability. The EU-funded REACT project is exploring potential responses, ranging from cutting-edge genetic research on the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to broader considerations of cost, fairness, and sustainability. The latest video delves into these socio-economic issues and explains why SIT could be a game-changer.

Pests vs. People — And the Price of Doing Nothing

 

So, what does it actually cost to combat invasive pests? And what would be the cost if we didn’t? In this video, Dr Ana Larcher Carvalho, Dr Aruna Manrakhan and Dr Kandas Cloete explain how infestations can lead not only to crop losses, but also to trade barriers, job insecurity and community-level hardship in agricultural regions. The video explores real-world cases and asks: Can investing in sustainable pest control today save money — and ecosystems — tomorrow? The REACT team, who are working on the socio-economic dimension of SIT, are particularly interested in how tools such as SIT could reduce pesticide use and support the development of more resilient, eco-friendly farming systems.

Watch now

We Need Your Input — Take the Survey

 

Understanding the science is only half the story. To develop effective pest management strategies, it is also necessary to understand how stakeholders across Europe perceive the risks, challenges and potential solutions. That’s why REACT is conducting a Europe-wide survey on fruit fly invasions and sustainable pest control methods. Whether you’re a farmer, researcher, policymaker — your perspective matters.

📝 Take the survey in your preferred language:

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Join the survey

The REACT project is developing sustainable strategies to protect European fruit and vegetable production from invasive fruit flies by improving eco-friendly control methods like the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). This survey gathers expert and stakeholder input to shape these solutions and assess their impact.

 

We invite farmers, agricultural experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives to take part in a 30–45 minute survey to share your insights on managing invasive fruit fly threats. Your perspective will help shape effective, sustainable pest control strategies for Europe’s agri-food systems.

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