Mexico Uses Nuclear Technology to Eliminate Insect Pest
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Mexico Uses Nuclear Technology to Eliminate Insect Pest

Photo by:   Markus Spiske
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Paloma Duran By Paloma Duran | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Thu, 08/11/2022 - 09:57

This week, scientists successfully used a nuclear-based sterile insect technique developed by the UN to eradicate an outbreak of the fruit fly plague in Mexico. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS) and the Governor of San Luis Potosi signed an agreement to train workers in the state’s agricultural sector.

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Mexico Uses Nuclear Technology to Eliminate Insect Pest

Mexican authorities worked together with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to use a nuclear-based sterile insect technique to eradicate a fruit fly outbreak in Manzanillo, first detected in 2019. The outbreak posed a high risk to the country’s key crops such as guavas, mangoes, papayas and oranges.

According to the UN, if the outbreak had not been addressed on time, the seventh-largest global producer and exporter of fruits and vegetables would have suffered several quarantine restrictions that would have seriously affected the sector, which generates more than US$9.2 billion per year in exports.

San Luis Potosi, STPS Aim to Formalize Agricultural Work

The Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Luisa María Alcalde, and the Governor of San Luis Potosi, José Ricardo Gallardo Cardona, signed a Collaboration Agreement for the Formalization of Workers in the Agricultural Sector, aiming to provide full labor rights to its over 47,000 workers.

Alcalde said that nearly 8,500 workers in San Luis Potosi were able to leave their precarious contractual situation and be recognized by their employers as a result of the labor subcontracting reform. The core goal of the agreement is to pull agricultural workers out of the informal labor market, in accordance with the subcontracting reform, and to grant labor rights and protection to its employees.

Inflation in Mexico Hits 8.15 Percent in July: INEGI

Mexico’s inflation rate hit 8.15 percent in July 2022, a rise from the previous month’s 7.99 percent, reports the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Core inflation increased by 0.62 percent in June, while non-core inflation increased by 1.09 percent. These inflation levels have not been seen since the end of 2000 and could lead the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) to continue to tighten its monetary policy and increase its interest rate by another 75 base points.

In July 2022, the main products reporting price increases were eggs, potatoes, tortillas, oranges, onions, soft drinks, green tomatoes and meat. Restaurant visits and housing were also more expensive. As a result of the price increase, PROFECO reviewed the different price ranges of supermarket chains. Ricardo Sheffield, Consumer Ombudsman, explained that since the anti-inflation agreement went into effect, the basic food basket at HEB and La Comer supermarket chains has been priced at MX$1,310.14 (US$64) and MX$1,288.44 (US$62), respectively. According to PROFECO, the central supply centers continue to be the cheapest option for acquiring the 24 products of the basic food basket, with a sustained price of MX$1,054.22 (US$51).

Photo by:   Markus Spiske

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