Peak industry body California Citrus Mutual (CCM) has thanked US senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein for their support of the industry’s research efforts, following the announcement earlier this week of US$9m in funding for the USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI).
The US$9m grant will support citrus research funded by the SCRI, and CCM said the senators’ support was critical to securing the funding.
“Funding for specialty crop research is imperative for our industry to remain competitive and sustainable,” CCM president and CEO Joel Nelsen.
“Here in California, we are in a race against the clock to discover ways to eradicate the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and prevent Huanglongbing (HLB) from destroying the state’s US$2bn fresh citrus industry.”
“This is a national issue, and the support from USDA and our State Senators is critical for protecting the viability of the entire domestic citrus industry. Unlocking the secrets to ending the deadly threat of HLB lie in research and research is only possible with dollars.”
California’s citrus industry spends US$15m each year on Asian citrus psyllid treatment programmes in the state’s south.
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