NEWS RELEASE:Senator Moody Welcomes EPA Approval of Anti-Citrus Greening Treatment, Backs Florida Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Senator Ashley Moody welcomes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of CarriCea T1, a citrus rootstock that helps trees defend themselves against citrus greening disease. Citrus greening is a bacterial infection that has destroyed more than 90 percent of Florida's citrus production over the past two decades. The newly EPA approved CarriCea T1 is non-GMO, and, when applied to citrus trees, disrupts the interaction between the plant and the greening bacteria, helping the tree limit infection on its own.

"Florida's citrus growers have suffered setback after setback-from fighting the proliferation of citrus greening destroying our state's groves, to getting hit by hurricanes and deep freezes. The recent approval of a new anti-citrus greening treatment is a welcome boost to our growers and their families. This remains an important issue, and I continue fighting to keep Florida growing," said Senator Ashley Moody.

"Florida's citrus growers face unprecedented challenges from pests and disease, inclement weather and burdensome costs. EPA's approval of the CarriCea T1 rootstock offers citrus growers a path toward recovery and helps better steward the resources our industry depends on. We applaud Senator Ashley Moody for championing innovative tools to help sustain Florida's iconic citrus industry," saidMatt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual.

"We thank the leadership of Senator Moody, Senator Scott, Senator Husted, Congressman Franklin, and the Florida Congressional Delegation for their strong support, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi for approving CarriCea T1. This HLB-resistant citrus rootstock is the tool growers need to bring healthy, affordable, American-grown juice back to the breakfast table," said Yianni Lagos, Soilcea CEO.

BACKGROUND:

• Florida's citrus industry continues to face extraordinary pressure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) reported that final 2024-2025 production totaled 12.15 million boxes of oranges, 1.3 million boxes of grapefruit, and 400,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos - the smallest Florida harvest on record since the 1919-1920 season. At the industry's 2003-2004 peak, Florida growers produced nearly 292 million boxes of citrus. Today's harvest is less than 5% of that total.
• CarriCea T1 works by making precise edits to the citrus tree's own existing genes-not by introducing DNA from other organisms. These edits disrupt the interaction between the citrus plant and the bacteria that cause greening, helping the tree limit infection on its own.
• Because the tree itself is better equipped to resist the disease, growers using CarriCea T1 rootstock can rely less on other sprays and pesticides.
• Senator Moody is a fierce fighter for Florida's farmers and citrus growers. Senator Moody introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act last April to help the Florida citrus industry by modernizing the Brix Standard. Senator Moody worked closely with President Trump, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to correct the outdated and unnecessary regulation.
• After February's historic freeze, Senator Moody urged USDA to support Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's request for federal disaster declaration. Last month, Senator Moody met with Florida farmers affected by the recent catastrophic deep freeze to discuss solutions. Senator Moody introduced the TEMP Act to examine resilience for American growers when extreme weather hits. Senator Moody recently introduced The Land Grant Research Prioritization Act of 2026. This legislation aims to help Florida's land grant universities support new technology that aids farmers and strengthens America's food supply.

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