Florida company Soilcea is preparing to supply more than 300,000 citrus trees based on University of Florida technology after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of CarriCea T1, a new Huanglongbing (HLB)-resistant rootstock that could help growers combat citrus greening.
Since HLB, known as citrus greening, was first detected in Florida in 2005, the disease has slashed the state’s citrus industry by 95%, reducing production from 292 million boxes to just 12 million, destroying more than 50 million trees, eliminating 47,000 jobs and resulting in about $76.5 billion in lost economic impact.
The EPA approval marks a significant milestone in delivering research-driven solutions to growers who have spent years searching for effective ways to combat the disease.
Read more about EPA Approves HLB-Resistant Citrus Rootstock Based on Uf Research.
