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Approach

CITRUSBUSTERS adopts an integrated, multi-level strategy to protect citrus crops from Citrus Greening – Huanglongbing (HLB), Citrus Black Spot (CBS), and their vectors. Our approach combines prevention, early detection, sustainable biocontrol, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that solutions are effective, safe, and adoptable in real-world farming.

Work Packages

Explore Our Work Packages

CITRUSBUSTERS implements this strategy through seven focused Work Packages. Click below to learn more about each:

  • WP1 – Drivers of Plant Pests & Early Detection
  • WP2 – Preventive Strategies
  • WP3 – Biocontrol Strategies
  • WP4 – Validation & Scale-up
  • WP5 – Adoption & Sustainability
  • WP6 – Dissemination, Communication & Exploitation
  • WP7 – Project Management

WP1 – Drivers of Plant Pests, Surveillance Methods and Early Detection

WP1 investigates the ecological drivers of pest spread and develops early detection tools to enable predictive Integrated Pest Managment (IPM) strategies.

  • Objectives: Organise data collection on pest dynamics using different tools; identify drivers of pest introduction and spread; assess ecological impacts.
  • Key Activities: Inspecting orchards for trees that are more tolerant or less affected by pests, t screening the microbes living in soils, soils around the roots (rhizosphere) and in the surface of leaves (phylosphere) across citrus orchards, Growing pest organisms (CL and PC) in the lab, develop early detection protocols using chemical fingerprints  (metabolomics and volatilomics), test advanced sensing platforms to indorm over plant health (HSI, LiDAR, thermography), and development of predictive machine learning models to combine all produced data and to warn earlier the presence of the disease in the studied conditions.

WP2 – Setting Up Preventive Strategies

WP2 focuses on developing resistant citrus varieties and bioactive compounds to enhance plant immunity.

  • Objectives: Develop HLB-resistant varieties via DNA-free gene editing; obtain and evaluate bioactive compounds; implement bioaugmentation strategies.
  • Key Activities: Induced mutations in sweet oranges; identification of target genetic loci for DNA-free gene editing; extraction and laboratory testing of biofractions to induce plant resistance; in vitro evaluation against CL and PC to select best-performing compounds for field trials.

WP3 – Biocontrol Strategies Development

WP3 develops and validates biocontrol solutions for pests and pathogens.

  • Objectives: Design biocontrol strategies using dsRNA, endolysins, and bioactive compounds; optimize sustainable delivery systems; implement bioaugmentation for pest control.
  • Key Activities: Identification and production of dsRNA sequences targeting T. erytreae and D. citri; development and encapsulation of endolysins for CaLas; biotechnological production of antifungal bioactive compounds against P. citricarpa; stabilization and controlled-release encapsulation; Adding helpful microbes to citrus trees or soil through bioaugmentation, guided by studies of the the microbiome results of WP1, to improve plant health and reduce pest problems.

WP4 – Validation of Solutions and Potential for Scale-up

WP4 validates the effectiveness of preventive and biocontrol strategies and assesses their scalability.

  • Objectives: Confirm laboratory and field efficacy; evaluate potential for upscaling; integrate early detection models with field data.
  • Key Activities: Interlaboratory validation of early detection tools; field demonstration of resistant citrus varieties and immune-inducing compounds; in vitro validation of biocontrol strategies; upscaling production of endolysins, dsRNA, and microbial consortia for field testing.

WP5 – Adoption and Sustainability

WP5 ensures the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of CITRUSBUSTERS solutions.

  • Objectives: Demonstrate safety and environmental benefits; assess economic viability and social acceptance.
  • Key Activities: Develop an evaluation framework; perform environmental sustainability assessments (LCA); conduct economic cost-benefit analysis; analyse social impacts and acceptability through Social Life Cycle Assessment (SoLCA) and stakeholder engagement.

WP6 – Dissemination, Communication, Public Engagement and Exploitation

WP6 ensures wide visibility, knowledge transfer, and exploitation of project results.

  • Objectives: Disseminate results, engage stakeholders, and maximize exploitation potential.
  • Key Activities: Develop a Dissemination, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy; create project brand and website; manage newsletters, press releases, and promotional materials; organise conferences; build networks and synergies with related projects; implement knowledge transfer and capacity building; manage Intellectual Property and exploitation plans.

WP7 – Project Management

WP7 provides overall coordination, reporting, and compliance.

  • Objectives: Ensure efficient management, monitor progress, and maintain compliance with EC requirements.
  • Key Activities: Administrative, financial, and contractual management; scientific and technical coordination; risk management; reporting to the EC; data management and Open Science compliance.

Methodology

CITRUSBUSTERS follows a 48-month work plan designed to achieve its objectives efficiently. The methodology combines multidisciplinary expertise, advanced technologies, and an Open Science approach to ensure transparent, reproducible, and widely accessible results.

The project methodology is structured around interconnected pillars, each addressing a key aspect of citrus disease management and stakeholder engagement.

Pillar 1: Surveillance and Early Detection

Focuses on early identification of HLB and CBS threats:

  • Pathogen and microbiome research for early detection and soil health monitoring
  • Crop Monitoring Toolbox using hyperspectral, thermal, LiDAR, and RGB imaging
  • Machine Learning for multi-source data integration and disease prediction

 

Pillar 2: Preventive Strategies

Develops citrus varieties and plant immunity improvement:

  • Resistant varieties via Whole Transcriptome Sequencing and selection of spontaneous/induced mutants
  • Plant immunity enhancement with bioactive compounds from citrus and green biowaste

 

Pillar 3: Biocontrol Strategies

Provides eco-friendly solutions for pest and disease management:

  • Target-specific biopesticides using dsRNA against insect vectors
  • Endolysins for selective bacterial control without harming soil microbiomes
  • Microbial metabolic engineering & bioaugmentation to support plant and soil health

 

Pillar 4: Adoption-Supporting Activities

This transversal pillar ensures the uptake of results by creating the framework conditions for adoption:

  • Stakeholder engagement via surveys, interviews, and Advisory Board participation
  • Public Engagement Strategy based on AKIS and IAP2 principles
  • Socioeconomic & environmental assessment integrating LCA, LCC, and SoLCA

 

Multidisciplinarity, AI, and Open Science

The project integrates expertise in computer sciences, biotechnology, field sensing, analytical chemistry, and social sciences.

  • AI & ML: Process multi-source data for early detection and decision support
  • Open Science: Ensures FAIR data management, Open Access publications, and reproducible methods