NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a new citrus rootstock designed to help trees defend themselves against citrus greening, giving growers another tool against one of the industry’s biggest threats. The decision comes as Florida citrus production remains near historic lows after years of disease pressure.
The product, called CarriCea T1, is a citrus rootstock that uses precise edits to the tree’s own genes rather than adding DNA from other organisms. EPA said the rootstock helps disrupt the interaction between the citrus plant and the bacteria that cause greening.
That matters in the grove because stronger plant defenses could reduce dependence on conventional sprays. EPA said the new tool may help growers manage citrus greening with fewer chemical applications while protecting yields and productive acreage.
The backdrop is severe. EPA said greening has destroyed more than 90 percent of Florida citrus production over the past two decades, and USDA reported the 2024-2025 Florida crop was the smallest since the 1919-1920 season.
EPA said fruit produced from the new rootstock will be indistinguishable from fruit grown on other rootstocks. The agency also said it completed a dietary safety review under its plant-incorporated protectant framework before granting approval.
Farm-Level Takeaway: EPA’s approval gives citrus growers a new disease-fighting tool at a time when production losses remain severe.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
It started as a simple service project for 4-H — collect some shoes, help a few people. But for Franklin Parish High School senior Eli Rogers, it has turned into something much bigger.
November 06, 2025 12:15 PM
·
The Court may limit emergency tariff powers, complicating a key bargaining tool; ag could see shifts in input costs and export dynamics as China, Brazil, and India talks evolve.
November 06, 2025 10:04 AM
·
RFD-TV expert Roger McEowen explains why a “skinny” Farm Bill is likely in the future, but its scope may change due to provisions contained in the Big, Beautiful Bill.
November 05, 2025 03:19 PM
·
The Farm Bureau urges trade enforcement, biofuel growth, fair input pricing, and pro-farmer policy reforms to restore long-term certainty.
November 05, 2025 11:41 AM
·
A SCOTUS ruling on Trump’s tariffs could have long-term implications on the authority of future administrations to control U.S. trade policy, according to RFD-TV legal expert Roger McEowen.
November 05, 2025 11:08 AM
·
The Sheinbaum–Rollins meeting signals progress, but the focus remains on fully containing screwworm before cross-border movement resumes.
November 05, 2025 10:18 AM
·
