LIFE Vida for Citrus: Development of sustainable control strategies for citrus under threat of climate change & preventing entry of HLB in UE
Date de début de projet
01/07/2019Date de fin du projet
30/06/2023Objectives
- Develop an early detection kit for HLB,
- Test new varieties of rootstock resistant to the pathogen and high temperatures, which will be adapted to citrus production in the Mediterranean basin,
- Test the effectiveness of integrated disease and vector control techniques (Trioza erytrea) that are environmentally friendly, promote biodiversity and ecosystem services, and reduce the carbon footprint of citrus growth,
- Disseminate good practices to stakeholders in the sector within the EU, through a training programme.
Location
France (Corsica, Guadeloupe), Italy (Sicily), Portugal (Alentejo, Algarve, Lisbon and Val-de-Tage), Spain (Andalusia, Canary Islands, Valencia, Murcia).
Description
HLB (Huanglongbing) disease, caused by bacteria of the genus Candidatus "Liberibacter", has already caused very serious damage in citrus orchards around the world. It is now threatening to arrive in Europe. European citrus industry is also threatened by the predicted effects of climate change, which will lead to an increase in average temperatures and periods of drought.
The LIFE Vida for Citrus project aims to prepare citrus growing in Western Europe for these constraints. It brings together both academic partners (universities and research organisations) and private partners (farmers' associations, citrus fruit companies). It aims to establish recommendations and develop control strategies and methods directly applicable by end-users.
Partnership
ASAJ (Asociación Agraria Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores Málaga (project coordinator, Spain), Agrimarba (Spain), AVA-ASAJ (Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores - Asociación Agraria Jóvenes Agricultores, Spain), Ayuntamiento de Sevilla (Spain), Cirad (Guadeloupe, France), ICIA (Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Canaries, Spain), IFAPA (Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria, Pesquera, Alimentaria y de la Producción Ecológica, Spain), INra (Corse, France), IVIA (Instituto Valencia de Investigación Agrarias, Spain), UAlg (Universidade do Algarve, Portugal), UNICT (Università degli Studi di Catania, Italy), Valenciagro (Produção Fruticola, Unipessoal LDA, Portugal).
Team
Evolutionary Structure of Citrus, Polyploidy and Genetic Improvement (SEAPAG)
Fundings
Europe-LIFE Climate Change Adaptation Programme. Total budget: €3,353,664.
Key words
Citrus, biodiversity, resilience, HLB, rootstocks, Trioza erytrea, sustainable agriculture