USDA agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has announced more than US$1.5m in funding to expand biocontrol efforts to fight HLB, also known as citrus greening. This action is the first designation of funds by the HLB Multi-agency Coordination (MAC) Group since it was established by Vilsack in December.
“Citrus greening poses a significant threat to the citrus industry and the thousands of jobs that depend on it,” Vilsack said. “The USDA is committee to fighting and beating this destructive disease.”
The funds, announced on Tuesday, have enabled the USDA to sign cooperative agreements with Florida, Texas and California to coordinate the fight against citrus greening. These joint efforts will significantly increase the production of the parasitic wasp known to control populations of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the pest that spreads citrus greening in citrus trees.
Florida, Texas and California have develop biocontrol expansion plans that factor in regional elements in order to quickly bolster biocontrol production and release. This will exdpand the ability to control the ACP on a larger scale, especially in urban areas where citrus trees grow in yards as well as organic orchards. The USDA’s efforts surrounding biocontrol date back to 2009.
Vilsack created the HLB MAC Group last December to foster greater coordination among federal and state agencies in responding to citrus greening The group includes representatives from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis), Agricultural Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as well as state departments of agriculture and the citrus industry. The group serves to coordinate and prioritise federal research with industry’s efforts to complement and fill research gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, speed progress, and more quickly provide practical tools for citrus growers to use.
