The Florida Farm Bill, passed March 3 by the state legislature, among other things would combine the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) with the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation. If signed into law by the governor, the bill will take effect July 1.
CRDF Chief Operating Officer Rick Dantzler cited some of the bills provisions pertaining to the merge:
- CRAFT becomes the advisory council for the current research marketing order, which lasts until July 31, 2028.
- CRDF is statutorily merged into CRAFT.
- CRDF and CRAFT will work together to develop a merger plan by Oct. 1.
- Funds held in trust by CRDF which were donated to or earned by CRDF shall be transferred to CRAFT and shall be used for the original purpose of the funds.
- CRAFT becomes the custodian of any property of CRDF on the date specified in the merger plan or on Oct. 1, whichever occurs first.
Dantzler reported that reasons cited for the merger include:
- Just as industry organizations have contracted and growers have had to make tough decisions to be more efficient, so must governmental organizations.
- With CRAFT’s focus on testing the products and technologies which research has uncovered, having the discovery and testing efforts under one umbrella may create synergies that result in faster validation of therapies.
- Long-term funding for CRAFT seems more secure than funding for CRDF.
“We are less concerned about where a robust research effort is housed than making sure it continues because there is more to be done,” Dantzler stated. “Validating the discoveries which we believe will save this industry from HLB, and fighting new diseases and pests that arrive and thrive constantly, is work that must survive the transition.”
“If the legislation is enacted, the CRAFT Foundation will prioritize both basic and applied research,” Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner stated. “By bringing these entities together, the new structure will maximize efficiency and resources, bolstering basic and applied research for the benefit of citrus growers. The CRAFT Foundation’s board will expand to include some members of the current CRDF board of directors, ensuring their institutional knowledge and experience help guide research priorities.”
Sources: CRDF and FCM
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