California Citrus Mutual has partnered with the California Citrus Research Board to offer six workshop sessions on the biggest issues facing the industry today. Of those, securing sufficient water resources and preventing the spread of citrus greening, or HLB, are by far the greatest concerns of the industry.

Felicia Marcus, chairman of the State Water Resources Control Board, addressed California’s water woes and how the board proposes to address the current crisis without hindering growers’ ability to farm profitably.

A second workshop focused on how agricultural interests are engaged in the battle to achieve the goal of “reasonable, responsible regulations that are protective of water quality and a viable agricultural industry,” according to a CCM press release.

In the past four-plus years, California citrus growers have been assessed an estimated $70 million to control the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and prevent HLB from taking hold. A partnership between the industry, the California Department of Food & Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop this pest and disease has been successful but cannot back off the ongoing threat.

Part of the plan includes a regional coordinated effort that will increase treatment effectiveness while reducing the number of pesticide applications — an approach that has been successful in various other industries, including the Florida citrus industry.

In the fight against the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing, genetically modified organisms may very well be the answer to sustaining the U.S. citrus industry.  

The luncheon keynote speaker, Cathy Enright, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Organization, shared her experience addressing the concerns of anti-GMO groups. Her firm has been dedicated to “opening the dialogue” about GMOs in food and modern agriculture.

Preliminary reports suggest a GMO tree could be a viable solution to stop HLB. If this becomes the case, the industry’s war against HLB will become a war against public perception in order to maintain consumer confidence in U.S. citrus products. Enright spoke about the success her firm’s campaign has already had, and what the company hopes to accomplish by being open and transparent about GMOs.

In regard to consumer acceptance, Enright stated that 18 million farmers have planted 400 million acres of biotech crops over the past 18 years. She added that GMOs are being approved in competing agricultural countries, creating a global disadvantage for American produce industries.

“Consumers are asking more questions and you need to have answers,” Enright urged.

In response, her group has launched GMOanswers.com, where 660 questions have been posed with 447 having been answered and 137 still being researched.