The HLB (Huanglongbing)/citrus greening disease and its vector (Diaphorina citri) are a big threat to the citrus production worldwide. Conventional control strategies – with the intensive use of inputs, chemical insecticides and fertilizers – have not yielded satisfactory results for the control of the disease and its vector.
Under such production conditions, an imbalance of the agro-ecosystem in the citrus orchards is created, which causes a vicious cycle, meaning an increased occurrence of Diaphorina leading to more applications of chemical inputs and spreading of the disease.
The organic citrus production searches for sustainable and environmentally friendly strategies that help fulfil the eco-functionality of the agro-ecosystem in the organic citrus orchards on the regulation of the vector and, therefore, help decrease the propagation of the HLB disease.
An international conference will be held from 10 to 12 April 2018 in Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz Mexico, with the aim of exchanging information and know-how within the citrus sector on a national and international level. The purpose is the dissemination of the results obtained in Veracruz (MEX) under the framework of the project, "Integral Management of the HLB/Greening Disease of Citrus on Organic Citrus Production".
Thus, the present call invites all interested parties to participate in the conference "Management of HLB and its vector in the organic citrus production", organized by the Colegio de Postgraduados in Montecillo (MEX), the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the company Citrex in Veracruz (MEX) and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in Frick (CH).