227 May 2015, Agadir, Morocco - Sterile male fruit flies being released by air into domaine Elboura Orchard.The sterile insect technique, or SIT, is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of pest control. SIT uses ionizing radiation to sterilize male fruit flies that are then mass-produced in special rearing facilities. The sterile males are systematically released, mainly by air, into fly-infested areas, where they mate with wild females that consequently do not produce offspring. As a result, if systematically applied over larger areas, this technique can effectively and sustainably suppress pest populations.