National Sterile Insect Technique Day, Tuesday 2 December 2025 at the CTIFL centre in Balandran.

Michelle Cook is the Executive Director of the Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release (OKSIR) Program in Canada, a unique partnership between local government and fruit growers. The presentation is an overview of the OKSIR program and its development since its launch in 1995. She will describe how the program currently operates and highlights the services it provides to apple growers and local communities within its operational area. OKSIR exemplifies a distinctive model of partnership, collaboration, and funding. The presentation will conclude by discussing the key factors that have contributed to OKSIR’s remarkable success over the past three decades.