CRAFT Websites

• FL - CRAFT https://craftfdn.org/

• TX - CRaFT Texas CRaFT Program - Citrus Alert

• CA - CRaFT https://citrusresearch.org/ https://citrusresearch.org/growers-application

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Background

HLB

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Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world.

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) is the prevalent bacterium associated with Asian HLB and has been found across the world. The disease is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, and the African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, also known as the two-spotted citrus psyllid. While the disease, or its vector, has impacted all citrus growing regions of the United States, it has had significant impact on commercial citrus growing regions of Florida and Texas. Moreover, the pathogen is poised to expand from residential areas of California to threaten commercial production. 

CRAFT / CRaFT

In 2005, Huanglongbing (HLB, citrus greening) was detected in Florida, leading to a drop in citrus fruit box counts from over 200 million to about 77 million and a reduction in commercial citrus acreage from 750,000 to 430,000 acres. Growers have used varied strategies to combat HLB and ACP, but no proven combination of practices has emerged. Experts recommended comprehensive field testing of HLB management practices and a centralized database to improve HLB management, as noted in the National Academy of Sciences 2018 Report on Citrus Greening. (excerpt taken from https://craftfdn.org/background/ )

To address these needs, the CRAFT Foundation, a private 501(c)(3) organization supporting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was established on June 19, 2019, to manage large-scale field trials and evaluate promising HLB treatments. Florida growers entered Cycle 5 trials in 2024. CRAFT Foundation, Inc is a not-for-profit corporation. Funded by public grants secured from a variety of State and Federal sources including the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and USDA-MAC. Since 2019, CRAFT has received more than $68,000,000 in funds allocated for grower payments to support large-scale field trials looking to combat citrus greening.

The Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation (TCPDMC) secured a grant through USDA-APHIS-HLB-MAC to support establishment of 1,000 acres of new citrus plantings in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.  The goal of this project, known as the Texas Citrus Research and Field Trial (Texas CRaFT) program, is to encourage novel planting designs aimed at increasing productivity and quality of Texas citrus. December 2021 Texas CRaFT selected applicant participants.

Citrus Research Board (CRB), with USDA HLB-MAC support, executes the California-focused Citrus Research and Field Trials (CA-CRaFT) project. Cycle 2 applications close March 2024.

HLB MAC

Coordinated Response to Citrus Greening Disease

In December 2013, the USDA established the HLB Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group to address the citrus industry's needs in combating citrus disease, involving USDA’s APHIS, ARS, NIFA, the EPA, state agriculture departments, and citrus industry organizations. The HLB MAC Group coordinates funding and research efforts to develop practical tools for growers, focusing on areas such as ACP control, infected tree therapies, protection of new plantings, early detection technologies, productivity management practices, and HLB-tolerant citrus varieties, with Congress appropriating $64 million since 2014 to support these goals.

Who is HLB Mac? Huanglongbing Multi-Agency Coordination Group Contacts

• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

• California Citrus Mutual

• Citrus Research and Development Foundation

• USDA Office of the Chief Economist

• USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

• California Department of Food and Agriculture

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Florida Citrus Mutual

• Citrus Research Board

• Texas Citrus Disease and Pest Management Corporation and Texas Citrus Mutual

• Arizona Department of Agriculture

• Wonderful Citrus

• USDA Agricultural Research Service

• Texas Department of Agriculture

• Alico, Inc.

• Dudley Putnam, Inc.

• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services