Development of sustainable control strategies for citric under threat of climate change & preventing entry of HLB in EU (LIFE Vida for Citrus)

Description:

The EU's Mediterranean area is responsible for approximately 20% of the world’s citrus production and 70% of global citrus exports. Citrus fruits are vulnerable to a disease called Huanlongbing (HLB) or citrus greening, caused by a bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter spp., which is spread through vector insects. Although it has not entered Europe yet, the disease infected 40 countries between 2005 and 2009, causing up to 60% losses. HLB has no known cure and current control measures have a high negative environmental impact, needing heavy doses of chemical insecticides and eradication of trees. Moreover, an early detection is difficult because the visible symptoms appear too late. Climate change, among other challenges, exacerbates the spread of HLB.

LIFE Vida for Citrus project aims to (i) contribute to the early diagnosis of HLB by developing a early detection kit; (ii) test new pathogen- and heat-tolerant rootstocks that can be adapted to Mediterranean citrus production and increase plant resilience; (iii) demonstrate techniques to effectively control vector spread and increase defense in the entire ecosystem with sustainable agricultural practices, while providing other environmental co-benefits; (iv) promote international cooperation and involve the EUs Outermost Regions in strategies to avoid HLB entry and contain potential spread; (v) create a replicable model of agricultural practices for vector/disease prevention for citrus growers in EU, while increasing their capacity to adapt to climate change; and (vi) demonstrate how to reduce chemical usage in line with the EU Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive 2009/128/EC.

The Detection kit for early diagnosis of HLB is highlighted on the European Commission's Innovation Radar on the basis that the innovation explores maturity and addresses market needs. The EU Innovation Radar platform aims to make information on high quality EU-funded project innovations visible and accessible to the public, showing citizens the excellent technological and scientific advances being made by researchers and innovators in Europe, funded on their behalf by the European Commission. The Detection kit for early diagnosis of HLB will contribute to the diagnosis of HLB through the development of a marketable in situ detection kit. It will be tested by IVIA on the island of Guadeloupe (France) where the HLB bacterium is present, in collaboration with another member of the project, CIRAD. The objective is to determine the validation of the kit under field conditions, in order to be prepared for an eventual entry of HLB in Europe. The inclusion of the kit on the EU Innovation Radar platform can open up new opportunities with business or academic organisations and spark the interest of potential customers or investors in your innovations, while demonstrating to a global audience the innovative work that IVIA is actively undertaking.

Project information

Lead

Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores de Málaga

Partners

ICIA (INSTITUTO CANARIO DE INVESTIGACIONES AGRARIAS), Spain
Ay Sevilla (Ayuntamiento de Sevilla), Spain
AVA-ASAJA(Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores - Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores), Spain
VAL-AGRO (VALENCIAGRO – PRODUÇÃO FRUTÍCOLA, UNIPESSOAL LDA), Portugal
IVIA (Institut Valencià d'Investigacions Agràries), Spain
UALG (Universidade do Algarve), Portugal
IFAPA (INSTITUTO ANDALUZ DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y FORMACIÓN AGRARIA PESQUERA ALIMENTARIA Y DE LA PRODUCCIÓN ECOLÓGICA), Spain
AGRIMARBA (Agrimarba 2 S.L.), Spain
INRA (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE FRENCH NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH), France
UNICT (Università degli Studi di Catania), Italy
CIRAD (CENTRE DE COOPERATION INTERNATIONAL EN RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT), France
ASAJA (Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores), Spain

Source of funding

LIFE18 CCA/ES/001109