CDFA undersecretary Jenny Lester Moffitt (fifth from left) joined the department’s new Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division Director Victoria Hornbaker (second from left), along with growers, packers and leaders of the citrus industry and research community at UC Riverside to cut the ribbon on the newest addition to California’s efforts against the citrus disease Huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as citrus greening.
Because it will focus on the invasive Asian citrus psyllid and HLB, the facility is designed for a “Biosecurity Level 3” rating (BSL-3). Research projects will delve into areas such as early detection techniques, development of disease-resistant rootstock, and new prevention tools for growers.