 These irradiated maggots are a secret weapon helping to lift Thai farmers out of poverty. The destructive oriental fruit fly used to cause export bans on Thai fruit. Farmers tried fighting back with chemicals but nothing worked. Then nuclear scientists helped them create an army of infertile fruit flies. Five million of these are bred every week. This is a nuclear-based insect birth control method called the sterile insect technique. Now farmers in Chantaburi province have stopped using harmful chemicals and their eco-friendly fruit are accepted around the world with fruit exports growing every year.