Showcasing guadeloupean citrus and HLB researches at Bik’Agr’Innov’

Citrus and HLB research activities in Guadeloupe highlighted at the “Bik’Agr’Innov’” outreach event

 

CIRAD and Assofwi have once again highlighted their R&D activities to the profession and students of Guadeloupe, Caribbean, regarding citrus fruit production in face of “huanglongbing” (HLB), also known as citrus greening. The public, very attached to this fruit production, showed great interest in the control methods and the new varieties of limes and rootstocks currently evaluated.

 

The Agricultural Innovation and Transfer Network (RITA) of Guadeloupe organised on February 4th, 2021 its first edition of the Bik’Agr’Innov’ event, intended to transmit knowledge, know-how and innovations in agroecology to the island’s (future) farmers. On this occasion, the Seapag team (CIRAD) and the Association of Fruit and Christophine Producers of Guadeloupe (Assofwi) joined forces to inform and alert citrus growers and private citrus enthusiasts to the seriousness of the HLB disease (origin of the symptoms, its spread by psyllids and human activities, socio-economic impacts).

CIRAD and Assofwi also presented the innovations of recent years in terms of new varieties (triploid lime trees, tolerant small citrus trees, tetraploid rootstocks) and appropriate cultural practices (grafting on healthy rootstocks, irrigation, fertilization, enhancement of auxiliary fauna and flora, mechanical management of grass cover). All these proposals are making it possible to set up sustainable citrus production in Guadeloupe and offers hope for a renaissance of the Guadeloupean citrus sector. The work carried out within the framework of the ‘TropicSafe’ project, along with those of other UE-funded projects, have been highlighted during the events.

The various communication actions on this theme comprised a stand with plant material, psyllids and various documentation, a short conference and a field demonstration of two innovative mechanical weed-cutting machines, alternatives to the traditional brush cutter.

Pictures credits: ⒸCirad, H. Rabillé

See more

Structure of Citrus Evolution, polyploidy and genetic improvement (Seapag) team, Agap Institute

Association of fruit and christophine producers of Guadeloupe (Assofwi, in French)

New mechanical tools to manage grassing in agricultural plots of land [VIDEO, in French]

Bik’Agr’Innov’ 2021 [VIDEO, in French]

Contacts

Raphaël MORILLON
Researcher, genetics of citrus
Email

Youri UNEAU
Technical manager of Assofwi
Email

Hervé RABILLE
Communication officer (CIRAD)
Email