This year, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reached a remarkable milestone: 50 years of the Medfly Program. This pioneering international partnership has stood as a critical line of defense against one of agriculture’s most destructive pests—the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly). Launched in 1975, in collaboration with Mexico and Guatemala, the Medfly Program has evolved into a global model for pest management. Science in action: Sterile insect techniqueAt the heart of the program is the sterile insect technique—a revolutionary, environmentally friendly method of pest control. Operating out of the El Pino facility in Guatemala, the world’s largest sterile insect production center, APHIS and its partners produce 1.2 billion sterile Medflies each week.