hlb: an iconic industry’s fight for survival
TRANSCRIPT
HLB: An Iconic Industry’s Fight for Survival
Farm Foundation Round TableJanuary 2015
Harold Browning, Chief Operations Officer
Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc.
700 Experiment Station Road • Lake Alfred • FL • 33850 863-956-8817 citrusrdf.org
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• Nearly 550,000 acres • Juice and Fresh Marketing• 34 producing counties• 6,000 small and large growers• 76,000 employees• 160‐180 million boxes of fruit • $1.2 billion farm gate value• $8.9 billion economic impact • Supplies 90% of U.S. OJ
Profile: Florida Citrus Industry at Risk
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Florida Citrus Industry HLB Situation
• All Florida Groves Infected• Increasing Tree Decline• Significant fruit drop • Crop loss 13% (2013), 18% (2014), ? (2015)• Average Annual Loss $1 billion, 2006/07 to 20130/14• Estimated Job Loss Related to HLB is over 10,000
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Disease Spread in Florida
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Oct. 2005 Apr. 2006 June 2007Aug. 2008
2 Counties 12 Counties 24 Counties
32 Counties
Source: Southern Gardens Citrus
Economic Impacts of HLB
• Increased costs of production Regular inputs Supplements Correcting soil, water conditions Psyllid vector treatments
• Diminishing yields• Lost efficiencies• Uncertainty > Indecision
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The HLB Disease Triangle
CLas BacteriaPathogen
HLB
Citrus TreeHost
DPI PhotoAsian citrus psyllid
Vector
Progressive Biological Impacts of HLB
• Inoculation into leaves by psyllid• Systemic movement in vascular tissue • Mottling of leaves (starch)• Debilitation of root systems• Decline of limbs, thinning of canopies• Small, off-flavored fruit• Pre-harvest fruit drop increase• Overall tree decline• Increasingly compounded by other
stresses
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TIME
How to Mobilize a ResponseWithin a Segmented Industry and System
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FDOC(FCC)
New Product Discovery and Development Roles
Indirect
Direct
Time to Market NowNever
NA
NSF
CRDF
Nursery
Processors
UF
USDA
NA PMA RGAFDACS / WMD
FCPRAC
USDA‐SBIR
APHIS EPA FDA
NSF‐SBIR
FCIRCC
Grove
Packers
FCMFFSPI/NVDMC
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• NAS involved 2008‐2010 in planning
• Increased investment in 2008‐09
• NRC study published in 2010
• CRDF formed as non‐profit research sponsor
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Assistance in Developing a Response to HLB
WHAT IS CRDF?
To address the need for an organization to manage research , the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), a 501(c)(3) non‐profit
corporation was formed in April, 2009
The organization is headed by a 13‐member board, 10 individuals from industry and 3 from University and State Department of Agriculture
The Mission of CRDFAdvance disease and production research and product development activities
to ensure the survival and competitiveness of Florida citrus growers
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CITRUS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Citrus Industry Research Investments
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$0
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$8,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$14,000,000
$16,000,000
$18,000,000
$20,000,000Research & Delivery Expense Summary
HLB Era
CRDF and Federal Funding Programs – HLBCRDF Program Goals
Understanding HLB
Long‐Term Development
Medium‐Term Development
Short‐Term Solutions
Delivery of Solutions
to the grove
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Federal Funding Programs
Farm Bill ‐ USDA, NIFASpecialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) CDRE Program$25 million per year over 5 years
Congressional Appropriation Multi‐Agency Coordination Group (MAC); USDA, APHIS$21 million over 2 years
Citrus Health Response Program (CHRP)USDA, APHIS and State Dept. Ag
IRCC
RMC
CPDC
PesticidesNovel SuppressionBiological ControlAttract/RepelDefective ACP (NIFA SCRI)CHMAs
Ultimate HLB ManagementAsian Citrus Psyllid
Population
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CLas Bacterial Inoculum
(Pathogen)
Tree SusceptibilityTo HLB and Injury
(Host)
= Reduced HLB DiseaseSeverity
X X
Low Low Low
Transmission Infection Tree Injury
Better DetectionTree RemovalAntimicrobialsTree DefenseThermal TherapyOther Therapy
Optimal Nutrition/IrrigationIncrease Plant DefenseTolerant RootstocksBreeding for ResistanceRoot Health ImpactsAccelerate ProductionReplant Citrus Trees
(Vector)
Research Goals – Short-Term Delivery
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Retain Health of Existing Trees– Critical for Near‐Term Industry Survival
Provide Tools for Success of New Plantings – Necessary for Stabilizing Loss of Acreage
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Coordinated Grower Practices Citrus Health Management Areas (CHMAs)
Grower Driven, VoluntaryBroader area action better than patchwork
Currently focused on ACP suppressionChemical treatmentsBiological control releases
Good model for adoption of new tools
Could be extended to other solutionsInoculum removal Replanting strategiesTreatment with bactericidesImplementation of tolerant rootstocks
Important forum for grower demonstration, adoption and education
Goals of Clas Chemical Therapy
• Stabilize/reverse decline of chronically infected trees• Reduce titer in canopy and roots with bactericides• Allow for recovery of fruit production while replanting• Treat new infections early• Immediate need for first tools• Communication with registrants and regulatory agencies• Sequential development of better tools• Not viewed as permanent solution
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Thermal Therapy
• Complementary to chemical therapy
• Solar tent and supplemental heat tactics
• Thousands of trees treated • Time/temperature refinement• Evaluation of CLas reduction and tree response
• More growers treating small trees with tents
• Commercial scale‐up • MAC Federal funding • Grower Initiatives• Steam‐treatment mechanized• CRDF Evaluation
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Evaluation of Commercially Available Tools
• Naturally Occurring Microbial Products• Plant Growth Regulators ‐ Fruit Drop due to HLB• Field Trials of Integrated Practices ‐ Root Healthorganic compostorganic acidsacidification of irrigation water and soil
• Evaluation of Advanced Citrus Production Systems• Inoculum RemovalDemonstration of Benefit of RemovalMotivate Larger Scale Inoculum Removal ‐ CHMAs
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Strategies for New Plantings
New planting incentivesScale‐up of tolerant rootstocksAdvanced citrus production systemsAggressive ACP suppression CHMA support and expansionDemonstration of integrating all available management tools
Everyday Challenges For Citrus
Build‐up of disease inoculum in “unmanaged citrus”Increased costs across the supply chainControversy over neonicotinoid insecticidesGrower reluctance to replantConfidence of lenders Limited alternative agricultural options for citrus landEntire infrastructure at risk
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Future ViewAggressive management is making a differenceTools are emergingGrowers are resilientBut, time is running out…..
Citrus is being Seriously Challenged, but Will Remain an Integral Component of Florida’s Agriculture and Economy
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Thank you!
CRDF is proud to provide support to the Florida citrus industry
Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Inc.
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