EPA Approves CRISPR-Based HLB-Resistant Citrus Rootstock to Combat Citrus Greening
核心洞察
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved CarriCea T1 (搜索), a Huanglongbing (搜索) (HLB)-resistant citrus rootstock developed by Soilcea (搜索) using University of Florida research.
Citrus greening (搜索) has slashed Florida's citrus industry by 95%, reducing production from 292 million boxes to 12 million and destroying more than 50 million trees.
CarriCea T1 (搜索) works with the plant's own biology to naturally protect against HLB, and the resulting fruit is considered non-bioengineered by the USDA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved CarriCea T1 (搜索), a new Huanglongbing (搜索) (HLB)-resistant citrus rootstock that could help growers combat citrus greening (搜索), a disease that has devastated Florida's citrus industry for more than two decades. Florida company Soilcea (搜索) is preparing to supply more than 300,000 citrus trees based on University of Florida (UF) technology, marking a significant milestone in delivering research-driven solutions to growers who have spent years searching for effective ways to combat the disease.
The Scale of the Citrus Greening Crisis
Since HLB, known as citrus greening (搜索), 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. The outbreak has destroyed more than 50 million trees, eliminated 47,000 jobs, and resulted in about $76.5 billion in lost economic impact.
"CarriCea T1 (搜索) works with the plant's own biology to naturally protect against HLB and provide a more promising path forward for American citrus production," said Yianni Lagos, president and CEO of Soilcea (搜索).
A CRISPR-Based Approach to Disease Resistance
CarriCea T1 (搜索) was developed by Soilcea (搜索), a CRISPR-focused agricultural research company headquartered at the USF Connect research park in Tampa, using discoveries from Nian Wang, Ph.D.'s, laboratory at UF's Citrus Research and Education Center. Wang is the Mr. and Mrs. J.R. (Rip) Graves Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Biotechnology at UF/IFAS.
The technology was exclusively licensed through UF Innovate, the university's technology commercialization office, and supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"This breakthrough exemplifies the world-class agricultural research and innovation taking place at UF/IFAS, our increasing focus on using biotech tools to accelerate solutions for growers, and our enhanced efforts to commercialize innovations," said J. Scott Angle, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and head of UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
From Laboratory Discovery to Marketplace
The approval represents nearly a decade of collaboration between university researchers, technology transfer professionals, and entrepreneurs to move an academic discovery from the laboratory to the marketplace.
"The license to Soilcea (搜索) has been a model for collaboration with a startup company," said John Byatt, retired associate director of UF Innovate | Tech Licensing, who handled the technology. "The path from discovery to license to product to market has taken nine years, but during that time, Soilcea has continuously communicated its progress with Dr. Wang and with UF Innovate. I look forward to seeing this work help turn around the fortunes of Florida's citrus industry."
Because CarriCea T1 (搜索) is designed to restore the tree's natural ability to defend against HLB, growers now have access to a new rootstock option that could help sustain citrus production for future generations. The resulting fruit is considered non-bioengineered by the USDA.
Industry Response
The industry's response has been strong. Soilcea (搜索) reports that more than 300,000 CarriCea T1 (搜索) trees have already been ordered by growers across Florida.
"CarriCea T1 (搜索) offers growers a realistic path forward and a fighting chance to preserve our groves, our livelihoods, and an industry that is central to Florida's identity," said Morgan McKenna Porter, operations manager at McKenna Brothers, Inc.
Robin Bryant, executive director of the Florida Citrus Processors Association, added: "This rootstock will provide much-needed relief to the citrus industry in its battle against HLB."