Citrus Food Forest

---

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is the most severe disease of Citrus. Citrus Greening has impacted the orange industry severely worldwide but especially hard in Florida, decimating the once ubiquitous orange industry and causing loss of billions of dollars. Millions of harmful pesticides and even antibiotics are being injected and sprayed to save the orange groves, spoiling the soil, water, and health for years to come. 

The condition is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) (ACP). ACP transmits the bacteria to the tree when feeding on new shoots. A possible solution could be found in Indigenous Assamese culture (in the Himalayan foothills region where Citrus originated), where they have been managing Citrus under a forest canopy in symbiosis with other forest species for thousands of years. Recent studies and observations in FL have shown that oranges under oak trees are not as affected by Citrus Greening. This could be for a few reasons: shade from the canopy trees, a mycorrhizal fungal network, and healthier soil biology. We intend to mimic these natural benefits by growing Citrus in a productive food forest that can financially incentivize FL, TX, and CA farmers, and then worldwide, to transform their Citrus groves into Citrus Food forests—possible canopy trees to be Neem and Moringa for their antibacterial properties.

“Neem-based pesticides exhibited toxicity to both nymphs and adults in laboratory studies, but the protection offered by neem seems to be short-lived (<5 days) in the field”. (Chemical control of the Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing disease in Citrus, a Study by Department of Entomology and Nematology, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA). 

What if the neem roots, fallen neen seeds, and fallen neem leaves are continuously present in the soil due to Neem Tree Canopy? 

Similarly, a study has shown [n] that “Ethanolic extract of Moringa leaf demonstrated antibacterial effects against foodborne pathogens. Further studies are required to detect and isolate the active ingredients in the Moringa leaves extract responsible for its antibacterial effect.” 

We are designing the Citrus Food Forest model to include herbs and plants on the surface soil, learning from the Assamese Forest Study to conserve ancient native Citrus, to provide possible further protection from the ACT, as well as creepers on the trees to combinedly provide more potential crops to sell from the same acreage.