Growers and industry stakeholders gathered in Bonita Springs last week for the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference hosted by Florida Citrus Mutual. Despite the challenges of HLB and recent hurricanes, the event drew strong attendance. The educational program provided updates on potential solutions for the disease that has plagued the industry for two decades.
SEEKING A RESISTANT TREE
One of the themes of the educational seminar presented during the conference was: “Where is my tree?” It focused on progress in developing trees that have strong tolerance or resistance to HLB. Several speakers addressed this topic.
Nian Wang, a microbiologist and cell scientist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences spoke about his research to develop gene-edited citrus trees with resistance to HLB. Wang said 200 citrus lines have been generated with 40 target genes in play with his CRISPR research.
His first batch of gene-edited non-transgenic Valencia and Hamlin sweet oranges have received regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. Work is now being done to move these gene-edited varieties into the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Fast Track program, so nurseries can start increasing plant material.
Wang also spoke about a second batch of gene-edited Valencia and Hamlin plants that have been submitted to regulatory agencies for approval. Assuming these two batches of plants perform well in field trials, Wang said they could become available to growers on a larger scale by 2028 and 2029.
Yianni Lagos, president and chief executive officer of Soilcea, discussed his company’s research to develop a gene-edited rootstock that is resistant to HLB. While he said the rootstock doesn’t make trees immune to the disease, it increases HLB resistance by 17,000 times.
Lagos showed several images of Soilcea trees next to conventional trees that have been exposed to HLB in both the greenhouse and the field. The photos showed a dramatic difference in tree growth and health when compared to diseased conventional trees.
Lagos added that the company’s trees are already in grower field trials, and the industry could expect scaled up production of commercial availability by 2027.
CITRUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
During the conference’s industry luncheon, this year’s winner Senator Ben Albritton was recognized with the 2025 Citrus Achievement Award. The award is presented by AgNet Media with the support of Florida Citrus Mutual, which has hosted the award ceremony for many years.
Senator Albritton was not able to receive the award in person, but fellow grower Dan Richey accepted it on his behalf. Albritton was in Tallahassee hammering out the details of the state budget, which was passed on June 16 and included $140 million in funds to support Florida’s citrus industry.
Matt Joyner, Florida Citrus Mutual executive vice president and chief executive officer, read Senator Albritton’s award acceptance speech:
“When I first heard that I had been given the Citrus Achievement Award, I must say I was deeply shocked. When I look at the previous 24 winners, they were, and many still are, leaders — even giants — of our industry that I admire and revere,” Albritton wrote. “I still don’t see why I belong on this list for just doing the right thing for the right reasons. But know this: I’m humbled beyond words that you feel like I do.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t love this industry, our people, our culture, our place in the world. I get energized by what Florida citrus will look like in just a handful of years — growing, vibrant and alive.”
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