Tehran - An Iranian knowledge-based company has developed a plant-based solution to control the Mediterranean fruit fly, a highly invasive pest that attacks more than 350 host species and poses a major threat to fruit production.

 

Developed by Rabo Biocontrol Pioneers, based at Alborz Science and Technology Park, the product is designed to attract and control the pest using plant-derived compounds, offering a potential alternative to conventional chemical pesticides.

 

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) affects a wide range of crops, including citrus, pomegranate, fig, mango, persimmon, and stone and pome fruits. Severe infestations can cause substantial crop losses if not controlled in time.

 

According to the company, the product has completed pilot trials in several Iranian provinces and received approval from Iran’s Plant Protection Organization, as well as a technology certification from Alborz Science and Technology Park. Field evaluations have also compared its performance with several foreign commercial products, paving the way for commercialization.

 

The development reflects Iran’s growing focus on biological and sustainable pest management to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and their potential impacts on soil, water resources, beneficial insects and human health.

 

The company is now seeking to scale up production and commercialize the product. However, raw-material costs and financing constraints remain among the key challenges to expanding production.

 

If successfully commercialized, the technology could contribute to wider adoption of bio-based pest-control methods in Iran’s horticultural sector, while supporting safer and more sustainable fruit production.