Scientists are launching outdoor tests of genetically modified screwworm flies in Panama to strengthen the region’s eradication efforts as the parasite reemerges in Texas and parts of the United States. The trials at the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm assess how well the modified flies survive, disperse, and compete with wild populations under tropical conditions before broader release. The engineered NovoFly strain aims to produce only males, which after sterilization would reduce reproduction and help push the pest back toward eradication. This work builds on the historic Sterile Insect Technique that eliminated the screwworm from the United States in the 1960s, but officials acknowledge that current outbreaks require expanded production and coordinated releases across borders. Federal planners are considering a Texas-based production facility to avoid disrupting existing operations, with experts warning that full eradication could take more than a year of sustained efforts. The research is conducted at a U.S.-funded facility in Panama as part of COPEG’s efforts to protect livestock and poultry industries from costly infestations.