The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) was awarded a $1,496,399 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) program on January 1, 2025. The grant supports the development and implementation of a natural biopesticide, RejiuAGRO A (RAA), produced by the bacterium Pseudomonas soli, to manage Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citrus crops. Key objectives include testing the effectiveness of trunk injection of RAA to target HLB directly, scaling up RAA production for commercial use, and conducting large-scale field trials to evaluate the biopesticide's ability to reduce bacterial load, improve fruit yield, and maintain tree health. The project aims to create a sustainable, environmentally-friendly solution that can be widely adopted by citrus growers to combat HLB, which has caused significant economic harm to the citrus industry. Successful development and implementation of the RAA biopesticide would mark a major advancement in agricultural practices for managing this critical citrus disease.
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