Finding a worm in an apple can be an unpleasant experience for the average citizen, but for producers, it represents a serious problem: the codling moth. That larva hidden inside the fruit can cause the closure of exports to Brazil and seriously damage apple production and the local economy.
Thus, the Institute of Agricultural Health and Quality Mendoza (ISCAMEN) issued an alert so the fruit growers of San Rafael and General Alvear perform the necessary treatments for pest control. ISCAMEN determined that was the right time to conduct the spraying, a common strategy in the sector.
The objective of this measure is to prevent Brazil from banning imports from Argentina again, explained the coordinator of ISCAMEN’s Risk Mitigation System, Hector Rodriguez. "Brazil is free of codling moth, so they impose strong restrictions to preserve this status," he said.
Therefore, if custom controls detect the presence of live larvae in fruit shipments, Brazil would close its market. "The procedures to reopen the market are very complex, so we need to take all necessary measures to prevent this from happening." The measures include a new Risk Mitigation System protocol and the issuing of alerts for the corresponding sprayings. However, producers face various problems to apply these solutions.
Source: El Sol Online