Greening Recommendations Report Released
March 23, 2010 In April 2009, the National Research Council of the National Academies, at the request of the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), formed the Committee on the Strategic Planning for the Florida Citrus Industry: Addressing Citrus Greening Disease (Huanglongbing or HLB). The Committee’s final report was issued today by the NRC to provide the Florida citrus industry and growers with strategic recommendations to combat citrus greening.
“This report is the culmination of efforts to support greening research initiated by a Florida Citrus Commission resolution in January of 2008,” stated Ken Keck, FDOC executive director. “The Florida Department of Citrus responded to the urgent and immediate need for research by partnering with the National Academies to identify promising greening research projects. We’ve reallocated nearly $20 million to date on research projects to yield potential solutions to greening and other diseases that threaten the future of the citrus industry.”
The report contains 23 specific recommendations that will require coordination and cooperation from all industry participants in order for the Florida citrus industry to survive and prosper. Some recommendations are currently being implemented, such as the creation of a disease research coordinating body (Citrus Research Disease Foundation or CRDF). Other recommendations, such as the creation of “Citrus Health Management Areas” are not currently in place and will require a high-level of grower cooperation to achieve.
Tom Jerkins, president of CRDF, added, “The NRC has provided a very comprehensive set of strategic recommendations for management and finding solutions for greening. Fortunately, the industry is well down the path of implementing some of the research recommendations. The CRDF will need to reexamine some of its priorities to make sure there is sufficient investment in the high pay off areas identified by the NRC. NRC research priorities include early greening detection, psyllid control and disease resistant plants. Strategies recommended for improved management of greening will take an unusually high degree of grower cooperation and industry leadership to be successful,” Jerkins concluded.
Over the past two years, FDOC and industry established and achieved important milestones in the disease research process through collaborative efforts. These milestones, several of which are found in the NRC recommendations, include:
• Securing research investment management
Created by the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) to professionally manage current and future citrus disease research projects as critical investments for Florida Citrus Industry sustainability.
• Establishing a quality control system
In 2008, the FDOC contracted with NRC, an independent third party, to bring together expert citrus scientists to review and recommend new research proposals. Over 200 proposals were vetted with over 100 being funded. The CRDF has created a similar process for future proposals.
• Accelerating the discovery process
Required research scientists to post quarterly progress reports online to provide ongoing status to industry stakeholders and facilitate collaboration.
• Creating a commercialization strategy
Positioned CRDF to operate in an entrepreneurial manner and accelerate the commercialization of research discoveries.
• Advocating with regulatory organizations, growers and public
Laid groundwork for regulatory organizations to hasten execution of research discoveries due to urgency and severity of greening threat. Prepared growers to accept risk and test new solutions.
“Growers can take heart in the report’s conclusion, which states ‘However deficient is our current arsenal for fighting HLB, the potential for progress against this disease remains distinctly hopeful,’ ” Keck commented.
The Strategic Planning for the Florida Citrus Industry: Addressing Citrus Greening Disease report and summary can be viewed at www.nationalacademies.org.
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