ABSTRACT
Over the past 20 years, Chile has become the leading fruit exporter in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s top exporter of table grapes and blueberries. The country’s fruit production spans 373,000 ha, producing around five million tonnes annually. By January 2024, exports had increased by 14.4%, totalling US$1.89 billion. Chile’s success is partly due to its status as the only Latin American country free of fruit flies of economic importance, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata). Since 1995, Chile has eradicated C. capitata through a permanent management programme. The country also has a rigorous quarantine system, including inspections, canine brigades and X-ray machines at border controls. Despite its isolation, Chile faces occasional fruit fly incursions, often from neighbouring countries. To combat this, Chile uses a comprehensive detection and control system, including a National Fruit Fly Detection System (NFDSS) with over 16,000 traps. The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been a key preventive tool since 1987, helping maintain fruit fly-free status. Additionally, bilateral agreements with Argentina and Peru support regional eradication efforts. To ensure continued protection, Chile’s government focuses on border inspections, early detection and increasing SIT coverage.
