Brasilia, 28 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Specialists presented Wednesday, at a seminar, a project for the construction of a biofactory to combat the Mediterranean fly, also known as the "fruit fly", responsible for causing million of dollars in losses to Brazilian farmers. Radioactive elements will be used for the sterilization of the fly, such as cobalt and cesium. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission are participating of the project.

The biofactory - which will be built in the city of Juazeiro, in the northeastern state of Bahia - will produce 200 million sterile flies per week to eradicate the plague in selected regions of the Brazilian territory. According to specialists, the sterilization of male fruit flies leads to a drop in the species' fertility rate. Other nations already have similar factories. Many governments - such as those of the United States, Japan, Australia and Israel - already employ biofactories, with positive results. (MW)