Silvec Biologics, a Maryland-based agricultural technology company, developed an RNA-based product to combat citrus greening in collaboration with U.S. Sugar, the University of Florida, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The citrus vector product uses a non-transmissible virus reprogrammed to express an antimicrobial peptide from spinach. Field trials indicate that a single application can reduce the impact of the disease without genetically modifying the trees.

Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, is a severe disease affecting citrus plants, spread by the Asian citrus psyllid insect. The disease has no cure and causes trees to produce discolored, bitter fruits only suitable for juicing. It is widespread in the U.S., including states like Florida, which has seen an 80% drop in citrus production since 2023.

As U.S. Sugar focuses on sugarcane production, Silvec is set to commercialize this technology, which has received support from the Citrus Research and Development Foundation. This innovation could help mitigate citrus greening’s impact on Florida’s citrus industry. In January, Silvec and its regulatory partner, the IR-4 Project, submitted an EPA registration application. This initiated an 18-month review process.

Read more about the commercialization of a treatment for citrus greening here.