The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it has, through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Programme, awarded a grant that it hopes will help aid the fight on citrus diseases.
The US$1.2m grant has been awarded to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to study automated stress and disease detection in crops, as the state strives to fight the likes of canker, black spot and huanglongbing (citrus greening).
According to reports in the state, UCF's research is designed to lower the cost of detecting these diseases through sensory technology, robotics and aerial mapping, while also reducing crop loss during the detection process.
In a statement, congressman John Mica noted: 'With the many diseases that affect our state's extensive agriculture industry, this research and new technology will help us to better understand and prevent further outbreaks that cost the state millions of dollars.'
