In the face of an urgent global fight against Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease that severely impacts citrus crops worldwide, an international webinar was held on December 6 to focus on the development and implementation of innovative tools and strategies for the early detection of this devastating disease.

This webinar, titled “Early Detection of Huanglongbing Citrus Greening: Tools and Strategies for Diagnosis,” was organized by FONTAGRO in collaboration with the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina, the Ministry of Economy and the Secretariat of Agriculture and Fisheries of Argentina, the Agricultural Innovation Institute (IDIAP) of Panama, the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA), the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) of Uruguay, the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) of Mexico, Fundecitrus of Brazil, CONICET of Argentina, the GIGA laboratory in Argentina, the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA) in Spain, and the César Milstein Institute of Science and Technology in Argentina.

The event highlighted the critical importance of early diagnosis in mitigating the impact of HLB on citrus production across the region. Experts in citrus farming and biotechnology discussed advanced technologies such as multiplex PCR and CRISPR technology, which have significantly improved the sensitivity and specificity of detecting bacteria associated with HLB.

During the webinar, a new portable diagnostic kit for the early detection of Huanglongbing was presented. This kit promises to enable farmers to quickly identify the disease and implement effective control measures. Discussions also highlighted the importance of DNA extraction and rigorous contamination control in diagnostics.

Challenges in early detection, such as co-infections and the predominance of Asian strains of Liberibacter, were also addressed. Researchers agreed that international collaboration and continuous innovation are essential to combating this threat to global citrus farming.

The event concluded with a call to authorities, researchers, and farmers to join forces in implementing these innovations to protect citrus crops, ensuring sustainability and future food security.

To watch the recording of this webinar, visit:

https://www.youtube.com/live/k2Inmo2q_hY?si=dBv9bDAkUYd2RA_W

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About FONTAGRO

FONTAGRO was created 1998 with the purpose of promoting the increase of the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and the reduction of poverty in the region. The objective of FONTAGRO is to establish itself as a sustainable financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean and Spain, and to establish a forum for the discussion of priority topics of technological innovation. The member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the last 27 years 204 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 150.7 million, which has reached 531 institutions and 35 countries worldwide.