Florida's citrus industry just got a potentially valuable new tool to boost harvests and help prevent plant diseases the industry is struggling with. An RNA-based product designed to help trees fight citrus greening has cleared a major federal hurdle, giving growers another way to protect fruit, stabilize harvests, and ease some of the pressure that can eventually affect shoppers.
Here's what to know
According to Citrus Industry, the EPA has cleared Construct CTV-SoD2, a therapy-delivery product from Silvec Biologics Inc., for unconditional commercial use under federal pesticide law.
The product is aimed at citrus greening, the bacterial disease that has wrecked Florida groves and made it harder for growers to keep trees healthy and productive. Weaker harvests can diminish supplies of Florida oranges, juice, and other fresh citrus products.
Trees treated with the product are prompted to make defensin, an antimicrobial peptide found in spinach, through a modified citrus tristeza virus. Silvec uses a non-spreadable version of that virus, which is commonly found in Florida citrus trees.
According to Silvec, that defense can help reduce citrus greening while providing longer-lasting protection without needing to alter the tree's genome.
More background
Citrus greening has been one of the predominant threats to Florida agriculture for years, especially across the state's citrus belt in central and southwest Florida. As tree health declines, growers face higher costs, lower yields, and tougher decisions about whether groves can remain in production.
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If fewer healthy trees are producing marketable fruit, prices for juice and fresh citrus at the store can start to increase, while local agricultural jobs and regional economies take a hit.
The new registration does not mean the problem is solved, but it does expand the list of available options. Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, described it as a meaningful step for the industry as growers continue trying to recover from years of disease-related losses.
What's being done?
Silvec expects to begin partnering with growers in late 2026 through Florida's Citrus Research and Field Trial programs. That next step would move the product into working groves so growers can assess how it performs under commercial conditions.
Anne Simon, chief scientist and co-founder of Silvec, said the company is working with the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture on several newer products meant to improve protection against citrus greening and other bacteria, fungi, and insects, according to Citrus Industry.
More reliable citrus production can help support farm communities and make a staple grocery item less vulnerable to supply shocks.
And while agricultural innovations work their way through the field, households looking to stay flexible at the store can also check out the TCD Guide's page on plant-based options for ideas that can help stretch food budgets and diversify meals.
"A new tool is now available to help strengthen citrus tree health and support the future of Florida's citrus industry," Joyner said, per Citrus Industry. "We are encouraged by the growing options available to help citrus growers mitigate the effects of citrus greening and advance the industry's recovery and renewal efforts."
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