🍊 How do you measure real-world impact? Next in the #CITRUSBUSTERS series: WP5 adoption & sustainability. Environmental, economic and social assessment frameworks developed. Stakeholders engaged in Brazil. #SustainableAgriculture

🍊 One year in. Real progress for #PlantHealth. #CITRUSBUSTERS Newsletter #2 is out: ✅ 6 HLB-tolerant citrus candidates ✅ ML models at 79% HLB detection ✅ 6,000 plants in the field ✅ 16 RNA molecules citrusbusters.eu/newsletter

🍊 How do you prove a new citrus solution actually works? Next in the #CITRUSBUSTERS series: Validation. Detection tools, resistant citrus, biocontrol strategies and scale-up production will be tested from lab to orchard. #PlantHealth

🍊 Can citrus pests be stopped without chemical sprays? Next in the #CITRUSBUSTERS series: WP3 biocontrol. First draft genome of the African citrus psyllid. 16 RNA molecules targeting HLB vectors. New protein candidates against the HLB bacterium. 🌐 citrusbusters.eu

🍊 What if #citrus could fight back on its own? Next in the #CITRUSBUSTERS series - Work Package2: preventive strategies. 6,000 irradiated trees in Brazil. DNA-free gene editing, validated. Citrus peel waste turned into plant defence. 🌐 citrusbusters.eu

🍊 New #CITRUSBUSTERS series: one workpackage at a time. First stop, WP1: surveillance & early detection. 71–79% HLB accuracy from microbiome. Six "survivor" trees in Brazil. Drones over Spain. citrusbusters.eu

🍊 The future of crop protection might not be about adding chemistry. It might be about activating the chemistry plants already have. A new #CITRUSBUSTERS-supported review in The Plant Journal explains how. 📖 citrusbusters.eu

Europe’s #citrus future is being tested in Brazil. 🍊 At the #CITRUSBUSTERS Year 1 #meeting in Limeira: 71-79% HLB detection accuracy, 6,000 resistant-tree candidates in the field, and the first draft genome of Trioza erytreae. More: www.citrusbusters.eu/year-one-in-...

🍊 One year in. #CITRUSBUSTERS heads to São Paulo, where HLB has already cost ~30% of Brazil's #orange groves. Two days of project review and field visits with our host CCSM-IAC. For us, Brazil isn't a case study. It's the field.

What if you could silence a citrus pest at the genetic level? That's what RNAi does, and it's what #CITRUSBUSTERS is developing against HLB vectors. No broad-spectrum insecticides or residues. Just precision. Have you heard of RNA-based tools in crop protection before? 👇

🔬𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝐿𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟 (pathogen responsible for HLB) cannot be grown in a lab. How do you test a treatment against a pathogen you can't grow? 🌐 In this article, we explain why HLB is a threat for Citrus Production in EU: lnkd.in/dXtsy7q4

🍊 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰? 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐋𝐁 (citrus greening), 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞. It colonises the tree's phloem, disrupting nutrient flow and slowly killing the plant. 🌐 citrusbusters.eu

🍊 Citrus is under threat. The research to protect it is underway. Are you following it? Our newsletter keeps you connected to the science, the people, and the solutions shaping the future of citrus protection. 👉subscribe: www.citrusbusters.eu/newsletter/

🍊 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 “𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬” Worth a read for anyone working across the citrus and juice value chain. Check it: www.fruitjuicefocus.com/latest-issue

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬 ♻️ By valorising processing residues and prioritising safe, non-synthetic approaches, we aim to deliver preventive tools that can be scaled for commercial production – helping growers and the juice sector alike.

🧪→🌱→🌳 Promising biofractions move through stepped testing: controlled lab assays, protected citrus trials, then larger-scale evaluation. This phased approach ensures safety, effectiveness and real-world relevance before any wider use. 🔁Follow

🍟🍅🍋𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬, s𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 This is the spirit between POMATO and CITRUSBUSTERS, supporting: 🔬 Resistance gene identification  🤖 Early detection tools  🌿 Natural control solutions  🌱 IPM Toolbox enhancement  📢 Cross-sector uptake  ➡️ Learn more: https://shorturl.at/Yt7qJ

🔬 We screen candidate extracts for early immune signalling – short-term biochemical responses that happen long before visible symptoms. Identifying reliable early signals helps pick the most promising natural elicitors for further testing.

🍊 We’re exploring how citrus processing residues can be transformed into biofractions that stimulate plants’ own defences. These nature-based leads could become gentle, scalable tools for preventive plant protection.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐛 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬: 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 🤝Science tailored to growers’ needs 🤝Tools designed for processors and suppliers 🤝Faster uptake means stronger, more predictable supplies. 👉www.citrusbusters.eu

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞 ✈️ Monitoring imports + rapid diagnostics reduce introduction risk ✈️Border vigilance complements on-farm early detection

Citrus health = juice industry resilience  🥤 Climate change + global trade = higher pest & disease pressure,  ➡️ For juice brands, investing in early warning and resilient material is an investment in supply security.

🎯 Rather than broad, non-selective treatments, CITRUSBUSTERS focuses on 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: • RNA interference (RNAi) targeting disease vectors • bacteriophage-derived endolysins against pathogens ➡️minimal impact on beneficial organisms

🍊 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲-𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 Within CITRUSBUSTERS, bioactive compounds are extracted from orange and mandarin peels. Their ability to trigger plant immune responses is being assessed 🌍 Less waste, fewer chemicals, and stronger natural plant defences.

🌱In CITRUSBUSTERS, we: • screen large mutagenized citrus populations, • develop 𝐃𝐍𝐀-𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 approaches, • work in full alignment with current and emerging EU regulatory frameworks. 🎯 Long-term resilience against HLB - delivered safely, transparently, and sustainably.

🛰️ No single technology can capture the complexity of plant health. CITRUSBUSTERS combines multiple monitoring tools: •airborne sensing (LiDAR, hyperspectral, thermal imaging), • High spatial resolution ground-based platforms • visual & 3D data at canopy level. 💭

🔬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬. Within CITRUSBUSTERS, we focus on: • shifts in soil, root, and leaf microbiomes, • early biological signals preceding visible damage, • anticipation rather than late-stage reaction. 🍋Follow

🍊 CITRUSBUSTERS develops an 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐈𝐏𝐌)strategy where each component reinforces the others. Early detection → identifying risk Plant resilience → reducing vulnerability Precision biological control → targeted intervention

🍊 📨 CITRUSBUSTERS Newsletter #1 is out! Curious to live our journey till now? If you work in biotech, plant health, citrus production or processing, this is a practical snapshot to stay up to date. 👉 Read it and subscribe to receive our bi-annual updates: lnkd.in/dgtu7qK2

🌱Together for plant health 🙏Protecting crops & biodiversity is not a challenge we face alone. Many EU-funded projects are driving: • IPM strategies • Bio-based solutions • Early detection tech • Biotech & AI models Curious? Check a small preview:https://shorturl.at/y8LIa

🌱 CITRUSBUSTERS joined the AGRO4AGRI “From Lab to Land” webinar, sharing insights on pest control, sustainable practices & resilient farming. 🤝 Collaboration is key to reducing reliance on chemicals and supporting farmers in Europe & beyond. 🔗https://shorturl.at/nAP3J

📢SOON Webinar From lab to land: learn how AGRO4AGRI, BiobiveProject, Citrusbusters, PHAntastic, and VINNY are delivering safer, sustainable solutions for crop protection and nutrition 📅 Tue 30 Sept 2025 🕚 12:00–13:45 CEST ➡ Register: tinyurl.com/FromLabtoLand

✅Second Steering Committee meeting done! Partners shared progress on early detection, plant resilience and biocontrol - aligning solutions to protect EU citrus. 🤝🍋Collaboration drives innovation and citrus health

Subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive insights from CITRUSBUSTERS straight to your inbox: 🔬 Research updates 🌱 Practical tools for growers 🤝 Opportunities to connect 📩 Subscribe today and join the citrus revolution: shorturl.at/zpfct

From lab to land: safer, sustainable solutions for crop protection and nutrition Horizon Europe projects AGRO4AGRI, Biobive, Citrusbusters, PHAntastic, and VINNY - together to share knowledge - Tue 30 Sept 2025 - 12:00–13:45 CEST Register: tinyurl.com/FromLabtoLand

HLB spreads fast – but what if we could test trees on-site in minutes? A new study shows how RPA with lateral flow assays could make early, low-cost detection possible in the field. Faster diagnostics = faster action 🌱 Read more 👉 rb.gy/j3fqhd

🚨 APHIS expands the citrus greening (HLB) quarantine in a residential area in California. About 3.57 ha of commercial citrus are impacted. In CITRUSBUSTERS, we want to prevent this. We study, research and protect citrus production in the EU. Source: shorturl.at/Xy104

🌿 #CITRUSBUSTERS is not alone in this fight Explore two #HorizonEU projects sharing the goal of a smart and resilient agri system: 🔹 EmergeNow: detecting threats like HLB and CBS at EU entry points. 🔹 POMATO: natural biocontrol and early-warning systems

🟠 How does the EU protect citrus and boost agri innovation? 🔸 Plant Health Regulation 🔸 Plant Passport System 🔸 Import restrictions on high-risk citrus 🔸 #Farm2Fork & #Biodiversity strategies Want to know more? Follow us!

WP6 of #CITRUSBUSTERS makes our results visible, accessible, in the long run 🟢 Communication and Dissemination 🟢 Stakeholder Engagement 🟢 Clustering with EU Projects 🟢 IP, Sustainability, Exploitation We don't just innovate. We share, connect, and grow.

Is fighting pests sustainable? How? WP5 of #CITRUSBUSTERS is here to find out. 🌍 LCA: emissions and ecosystem 💶 CBA: costs vs. benefits 👩‍🌾 SoLCA: impact on jobs, awareness, acceptance We’re proving our biocontrol tools are not just effective - but present-ready.

🔍 How do we know our solutions work? In #CITRUSBUSTERS, we're validating our #pest-fighting tools in real orchards 🌱 ✔️ DNA-free edited citrus ✔️ Biobased immune boosters ✔️ Endolysins and dsRNA biocontrol ✔️ Large-scale fermentation and field tests 👉From the lab to the ground!

🍊 Nature meets tech to protect citrus We develop biocontrol solutions: 🧬 dsRNA to silence citrus pest vectors 🦠 Endolysins vs. citrus greening bacteria 🧪 Fermented compounds to fight CBS 🎯 Smart delivery via encapsulation 🌱 Bioaugmentation with beneficial microbes

🔑#Prevention is key Under the Work Package 2, we will set up strategies with 4 objectives: 🔬 Gene-editing (DNA-free) for #resistance 🌱 Biofractions from citrus waste 🧪 Validation lab tests 🧫 Soil bioaugmentation Smart science to grow resilient #citrus – naturally with a tech twist

How do we outplay #citrus #pests? In #CITRUSBUSTERS, we want to predict outbreaks before symptoms show. Work Package 1 includes: 📍 Scouting fields 🧪 Culturing key pathogens 🌱 #Soil microbiome analysis 📡 Sensing tech (LiDAR, HSI) 🤖 AI for early detection

🔬 Whats is CITRUSBUSTERS' plan to protect Europe’s citrus crops from pests? ⬇️ We designed our multi-level response tackling every angle: early detection, preventive and biocontrol strategies with real-world validation and support, across 7 WPs.⬇️ 🔔Wanna know more? Follow us!

🧬 🍋 🧑‍🔬 What do an insect, a fungus, and leading agri-tech organizations have in common? The answer lies in the CITRUSBUSTERS Project. ❓ How? Learn about our approach in just 2 minutes, with our coordinator Paloma Juarez Ortega. 🎥 Watch the video: youtu.be/LyQ4TILswIQ

🚨 Citrus in danger: the silent threats behind you lemon water ⬇️Let us present you the culprits: 🔴Trioza erytreae, the insect vector of Candidatus Liberibacter spp. – the bacteria behind citrus greening (HLB) 🔴Phyllosticta citricarpa – a fungal disease causing black spot

🗣️ PEDAL (SK) & OXIGEN (IT): driving CITRUSBUSTERS communication! • PEDAL: Expert EU project dissemination & exploitation • OXIGEN: Stakeholder engagement and outreach Spreading knowledge for sustainable citrus protection. 🌱 Follow along our journey to protect EU citrus production!

🍊 Meet IFU: the global voice of the juice industry! In CITRUSBUSTERS, IFU leads clustering, networking, and capacity building - connecting research with real-world citrus processors. 🌱 You’ve discovered nearly all of our team. Stay with us to meet the last key players!