FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Florida’s citrus industry is marshalling more scientific studies to fight citrus greening and canker diseases threatening the state’s signature crop.
During a Jan. 28 meeting of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation Inc., grower and industry members approved investing $2.1 million in research projects to find solutions to halt the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid, which hosts and spreads the citrus greening disease Huanglongbing that kills citrus trees.
The money — funded by growers — brings the industry’s to-date research investments to nearly $30 million.
Peter McClure, agricultural research and business development manager of Evans Properties Inc., Vero Beach, which owns citrus acreage throughout Florida, said the funding is critical to the industry’s survival.
“If we don’t find some solutions, there won’t be a citrus industry in Florida,” he said. “This is more important than any other industry endeavor. We are still losing the war (against greening) but are getting a good understanding of the biology of the insect and the bacteria which will provide targets for us to attack.
“These investments should come up with some solutions,” McClure said. “The industry will dwindle until we can solve the problem.”
The $2.1 million approved by the board, which consists of industry, university and government representatives, will amount to $4 million in research projects over the next three years, said Dan Gunter, the foundation’s chief operating officer.
The foundation approved 24 projects of 38 up for review. Scientist submitted a total of 108 proposals.
The approved projects will build on research Florida growers funded, including sequencing the genome of the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing.