Citrus Research And Development Foundation Inc

CITRUS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC. IS A DIRECT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. THE FOUNDATION REVIEWS, APPROVES, AND COORDINATES RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING SOLUTIONS TO CITRUS DISEASES. FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS OF THE CRDF INCLUDES PROCEEDS OF RESEARCH BOX TAXES LEVIED ON FLORIDA CITRUS GROWERS. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ALSO RECEIVES LEGISLATIVE FUNDING AND PRIVATE DONATIONS. PRIVATE DONORS PROVIDE IMPORTANT RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR CRDF PROGRAMS. THE RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (PREVIOUSLY, THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCT DELIVERY COMMITTEE) WORKS WITH RESEARCH PARTNERS TO INSURE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERS FOR MANUFACTURING AND MARKETING OF TECHNOLOGY ARE IDENTIFIED. PROGRAMS OF THE CRDF BENEFIT NOT ONLY CITRUS GROWERS, BUT ALLIED INDUSTRIES AND THE CITIZENS OF FLORIDA.

CONDUCT PEER-REVIEWED CONTRACTED DISCOVERY RESEARCH ON ELEMENTS OF CITRUS HEALTH, FOCUSING ON THE TRIPARTITE DISEASE SYSTEM INVOLVING A BACTERIAL PATHOGEN, LIBERIBACTER ASIATICUS, THE INSECT VECTOR, ASIAN CITRUS PSYLLID, AND THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CITRUS TREES IN FLORIDA. CRDF HAS MAINTAINED A ROBUST PORTFOLIO OF DISCOVERY SCIENCE IN NORTH AMERICA, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT IMPORTANT BACKGROUND AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITIES, FEDERAL LABS, AND OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE US. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN 2023-2024 IN UNDERSTANDING BIOLOGY OF THE ELEMENTS OF THIS DISEASE, AS WELL AS THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ELEMENTS THAT LEAD TO DISEASE AND HEALTH DECLINE, AND WHICH FORM TARGETS FOR INTERVENTION.

TRANSLATIONAL WORK TO MOVE RESEARCH RESULTS TO SOLUTIONS FOR FLORIDA AND US CITRUS GROWERS HAS INCREASED IN IMPORTANCE AT CRDF AS RESEARCH RESULTS ARE BEING ANALYZED AND NEXT STEPS ARE DESIGNED. CRDF HAS ENLISTED NATIONAL EXPERTS TO ASSIST IN SELECTING WHICH RESEARCH PROPOSALS TO FUND AND IN INTERPRETING THE RESULTS OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND TOPICS, LEADING TO A VISION FOR HOW FIELD DEPLOYMENT OF THE RESEARCH AND ITS ADOPTION BY GROWERS CAN INCREASE YIELD AND QUALITY. NOTABLY, CRDF IS AMONG FEW PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS TO CONDUCT BOTH DISCOVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT THIS SCALE. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, A WIDE RANGE OF FIELD TRIALS WERE CONDUCTED OR FUNDED, BRINGING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS INTO FOCUS UNDER REAL-WORLD GROWER CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA.