Home / Business and Economy / Mexico & US Open Fly Plant to Combat Cattle Pest
Mexico & US Open Fly Plant to Combat Cattle Pest
28 Jun
Summary
- New sterile fly plant opened in Chiapas, Mexico, costing over $50 million.
- Plant will produce up to 100 million sterile flies weekly to suppress pest.
- Outbreak disrupted cattle trade, leading to border closures and shifts in industry.
Senior officials from Mexico and the United States inaugurated a sterile fly production plant in southern Chiapas on Saturday, June 27, 2026. This facility, located in Metapa de Dominguez near the Guatemala border, represents a significant collaborative effort costing over $50 million.
The plant is designed to produce up to 100 million sterile flies weekly, a crucial component in suppressing the wild New World screwworm population. This pest burrows into warm-blooded animals and can be fatal if left untreated. The screwworm outbreak, first confirmed in Mexico in November 2024, has spread northward, reaching the U.S. in early June 2026 and raising concerns for the cattle industry.
Despite the new capacity, experts note that the total supply of sterile flies may still be insufficient for complete eradication. The launch follows warnings dating back to 2023, with over 30,000 animals infected in Mexico. The outbreak has led to the U.S. largely closing its border to Mexican live cattle since May 2025, disrupting a trade of over 1 million animals annually and impacting U.S. feedlots.
In response to the trade disruption, Mexican ranchers are increasingly processing animals domestically, leading to a surge in Mexican beef shipments to the U.S. in 2026. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins expressed confidence in overcoming the pest, stating, "Our countries have beaten this before... We will beat the New World screwworm again." The new plant is expected to double the insect release capacity compared to an existing facility in Panama.
