Silvec Biologics announces new solution for citrus greening disease progresses to US EPA Full Science Review

Silvec Biologics, a Maryland based agtech company that develops RNA-based plant protection products, has announced that a first-of-its-kind RNA vector delivery product, developed in collaboration with Southern Gardens Citrus (a subsidiary of U. S. Sugar), University of Florida, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, to combat the devastating and incurable citrus greening disease, has progressed to the Full Science Review Phase of the EPA Pesticide Regulation Improvement Act (PRIA) registration process following successful completion of Milestone #4 – Technical Screen in July 2024.

Citrus greening has had a massive impact on citrus production globally, with Florida being especially hard hit with 2023 production down 80% from its pre-disease peak. Silvec is the exclusive sublicensee of U.S. Sugar’s novel delivery vector developed in conjunction with the University of Florida and antimicrobial peptide technologies developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

The product is based on a mild and naturally untransmittable version of a virus found in most citrus trees that has been reprogrammed to express a natural antimicrobial peptide found in spinach. A single application has been demonstrated in field trials to provide long-term reduction in yield declines caused by the citrus greening bacteria. This product is the first of its kind to use a viral vector to reduce damage from pathogens, is compatible with all commercial citrus varieties, and does not genetically modify the tree or its fruit.

″As U.S. Sugar made a strategic realignment to focus on increasing its Florida sugarcane production, we are confident in transitioning our citrus vector technology to Silvec for commercialization. We believe this important technology will play a critical role in reducing the scourge of citrus greening,″ stated the Director of Research and Special Projects at U.S. Sugar, Mike Irey.

According to Rick Dantzler, Executive Director of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, a partnership between Florida citrus growers and government agencies, ″CRDF sees the citrus vector technology as playing an instrumental role in helping to reduce the catastrophic effects of citrus greening on Florida citrus production and Silvec has our full support with its regulatory approval process.″

The citrus vector product has been approved by USDA for commercial use in all Florida counties following a positive Environmental Impact Statement issued by USDA in June 2020. Silvec, along with its regulatory partner, the IR-4 Project, filed an EPA registration application in January 2024 which commences an 18-month review process. ″We are very excited to build on the pioneering work by U.S. Sugar, the University of Florida, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research over the past 15 years and look forward to begin commercializing the citrus vector product once all regulatory approvals are in place″ said Silvec CEO, Dr. Rafael Simon.

″After years of research and development, we are pleased to see the citrus vector and spinach defensin technology advance to the EPA registration phase and get closer to approval. This endeavor is a perfect example of the public-private sector relationships that are crucial to creating impact and innovative solutions to complex problems such as citrus greening,″ said Kranthi Mandadi, Ph.D., professor of plant pathology and microbiology at Texas A&M AgriLife Research.