Agriculture Minister Isaura Navarro addressed the European Committee of the Regions to spotlight a pioneering research effort by the Valencian Agricultural Research Institute IVIA. The project aims to prevent and fight the Huanglongbing plague, and Navarro stressed that the entire European Union must join forces. If Valencians act alone, they cannot beat the disease; concerted effort from across Europe is essential to safeguard citrus production.
The minister also underscored the need to share Valencian rural concerns with European institutions. The region offers practical solutions, supported by an investment of over 30 million annually in research against agricultural pests, with IVIA serving as an international benchmark in these battles.
Recent progress reflects strong support and funding for this ambitious Valencia defense initiative against HLB, including the development of infection-tolerant plant material.
Navarro described the HLB results as both a milestone and a preventive antidote. The work includes the introduction and breeding of a parasitoid, a comprehensive epidemiological study of HLB, and the creation of rapid diagnostic kits.
The minister called for greater European commitment, highlighting the need for stronger agricultural science and research to build a safer, more sustainable and profitable farming sector.
Although HLB has not yet been detected in Europe, Navarro warned that its arrival could devastate 60 percent of citrus crops. This is a risk the region seeks to avoid, hence the emphasis on proactive research and prevention.
More Resources for Xylella
In parallel, Navarro visited the European Commission headquarters for a meeting with Bernard Van Goethem, director general for Health and Food Safety, who advocated for additional resources to support replanting in regions affected by Xylella. The proposal aims to improve measures for handling phytosanitary issues and was well received by European representatives.
Asaja Alicante joined the event in Bruiselas to reaffirm the commitment of Alicante and Valencia to the citrus sector. The group urged the European Union to take urgent steps to prevent the plague from reaching fields and to provide robust tools to fight and eradicate it. They warned that failure to act would bring severe economic, social, and environmental consequences for the region.
José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante and a lemon grower from Vega Baja del Segura, noted the challenges of battling a bacterial disease in the fields and the severe impacts it brings. The association has faced the fallout from Xylella fastidiosa, including the uprooting of thousands of trees and large-scale land clearance, which has driven farmers to the brink.
The threat of HLB grows more pressing as vectors such as Tryoza erytreae have been detected in Spain and Israel, and the even more dangerous Diaphorina citri in parts of Africa. For Asaja Alicante, it is essential to monitor actions in Brussels and press for early, decisive measures to protect citrus crops and the farmers who depend on them. The province supports more than 9,200 full-time citrus workers, with the majority focused on lemons, followed by mandarins and oranges. The economic output for the region exceeds 209 million euros gross production.
The early season balance shows that while base prices have improved compared to the previous two years, prices remain tight and margins are thin as energy and fuel costs rise. A notable drop in lemon exports, driven by inflation in key markets like Germany, has added pressure on profitability.
Leaders of the association warn of ongoing challenges for the upcoming campaign. Inflation and water security issues in Spain’s citrus heartlands could raise costs and expose crops to additional pests and infections, threatening the livelihood of farmers across the region.