Florida Citrus Industry Finds New Hope in Biological Control

Hello connections, I am glad to share the post on INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PLANT HEALTH. The International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is observed annually on May 12 to highlight the critical role of plant health in sustainable development, food security, and ecosystem function. Led by the FAO and IPPC, the 2026 theme is "Plant Biosecurity for Food Security," focusing on preventing the spread of pests to protect biodiversity and livelihoods #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #designthinking #snscphs

Over the next 4 days, we’ll be sharing an educational series highlighting some of the beneficial microbes and fungi found within the SoilPHIX blend. SoilPHIX was designed to help support soil biology, nutrient cycling, root-zone activity, and overall soil function through naturally occurring beneficial organisms. Our blend contains 25+ independently studied bacteria and fungi that each play a unique role within the soil ecosystem. Over the next few posts, we’ll break down: 🌱 Root development support 🦠 Nutrient cycling biology 🍄 Fungal networking & water dynamics 🌎 Soil resilience & biological balance Healthy soil starts below the surface. Built by farmers, for farmers. www.WeSaveSoil.com #LivingWater #SoilPHIX #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #Microbes #BiologicalFarming #SustainableAgriculture #Agriculture Joseph Brown Chris Valenti Brandon Mason Michael Kosty Ryan Mac William "Kyle" Carruth

Plant health is essential for food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. Yet crops around the world continue to face threats from pests, diseases, invasive species, and changing environments. This year’s International Day of Plant Health, led by IPPC | International Plant Protection Convention, highlights the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security” — a reminder that protecting plants starts with early detection, prevention, and deeper biological understanding. At BMKGENE, we are committed to supporting plant health and crop research through sequencing and bioinformatics solutions, helping researchers explore pathogen detection, disease resistance, and plant–microbe interactions. #InternationalDayOfPlantHealth #PlantHealthDay #ProtectOurPlants #PlantBiosecurity #FoodSecurity #PlantGenomics #CropResearch #BMKGENE

Plant health is essential for food security, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. Yet crops around the world continue to face threats from pests, diseases, invasive species, and changing environments. This year’s International Day of Plant Health, led by IPPC | International Plant Protection Convention, highlights the theme “Plant Biosecurity for Food Security” — a reminder that protecting plants starts with early detection, prevention, and deeper biological understanding. At BMKGENE, we are committed to supporting plant health and crop research through sequencing and bioinformatics solutions, helping researchers explore pathogen detection, disease resistance, and plant–microbe interactions. #InternationalDayOfPlantHealth #PlantHealthDay #ProtectOurPlants #PlantBiosecurity #FoodSecurity #PlantGenomics #CropResearch #BMKGENE

🌽 Maize feeds over one billion people worldwide and plays a vital role in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, especially for rural communities. However, plant pests such as Fall Armyworm continue to threaten maize production, with significant economic impacts globally. To launch the International Day of Plant Health campaign, FAO and the IPPC | International Plant Protection Convention present the exhibition: Protecting maize, protecting life 📅 27 April – 13 May 📍 FAO Museum and Network (MuNE), FoodS Lab The exhibition highlights the importance of maize for biodiversity, culture, and food systems, and showcases how plant health protection supports safe trade and global food security. 👉 Book your free visit: https://bit.ly/4taFYnf #PlantHealthDay🌱 #ProtectOurPlants

🌱We're kicking off this year's International Day of Plant Health at the FAO Headquarters in Rome with an exhibition dedicated to maize🌽. A cornerstone of #FoodSecurity and a staple in many households and school meals 😊, maize is one of the world's most important crops.🌍🌾

A "Natural" Step Forward in the Fight Against Citrus Greening. Florida’s citrus industry has faced a long, uphill battle against Huanglongbing (HLB). However, recent research led by the team at UF/IFAS SWFREC —including Associate Professor Dr. Jawwad Qureshi—is highlighting a sustainable approach with beneficial insects. New findings show that three commercially available predators—the Green Lacewing, the Mealybug Destroyer, and the Minute Pirate Bug—are highly effective at devouring Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) eggs before they ever have a chance to spread the disease, which is very important. Previously, his program showed significant effects of the several predatory arthropod groups and parasitoid Tamarixia radiata on ACP nymphs. As Dr. Qureshi notes, these findings emphasize the role of three predators for integrated pest management (IPM), offering a way to substantially enhance sustainable psyllid management and support long-term mitigation in our groves. By combining different approaches such as biological controls, individual protective covers (IPCs), and insecticides we are moving closer to a resilient, multi-layered defense for Florida’s iconic crop. View Wink Report: Florida citrus growers test 'good bugs' to fight greening disease - YouTube https://lnkd.in/ebkkzZAc #SWFREC #AgTech #CitrusGreening #Sustainability #FloridaAgriculture #IPM #BiologicalControl #UFIFAS

🎉 Celebrating International Day of Plant Health 🪴 Healthy plants are the foundation of food security, nutrition, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. This year’s IDPH theme, Plant Biosecurity for Food Security and Nutrition, reminds us that protecting plants means preventing, detecting and managing pests, diseases and invisible risks such as #mycotoxins. At FABI, plant health is at the centre of what we do. Through 20 research programmes and shared platforms, we support surveillance, diagnostics, genomics, pest and disease management, culture collections, data systems and industry partnerships. Our work supports key sectors, including grains🌾, citrus🍋, avocado🥑, kiwifruit🥝, macadamia and plantation forestry🌳. These efforts help reduce crop and tree losses, protect livelihoods, support trade, and build more resilient food and forest systems. On International Day of Plant Health, we recognise everyone working to protect plant health, from the field and forest to the laboratory and beyond. 🤝 Read more about FABI’s plant health research and impact in our 2023–2025 Biennial Report: https://lnkd.in/dveePvTn #InternationalDayOfPlantHealth #PlantHealth #PlantBiosecurity #FoodSecurity #NutritionSecurity #Biosecurity #PlantPathology #Mycotoxins UP Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences University of Pretoria FAO IPPC | International Plant Protection Convention

*🌱 Every healthy plant tells a story of food, life, and survival.* On this International Day of Plant Health, we reflect on the silent threats that destroy millions of crops each year impacting food security, biodiversity, and livelihoods around the world. Plant health is not just about agriculture. It is about protecting the future on our plates and the planet we depend on. 💚🌍 Today, we proudly share insights from our lecturer on why plant health matters now more than ever. #InternationalDayOfPlantHealth #PlantHealth #FoodSecurity #BOTSOC #USJP

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system Wan et al. reveal that rice-fish coculture enhances invertebrate natural enemies (i.e., predators and parasitoids), suppresses pests (i.e., invertebrate herbivores, diseases, and weeds), and boosts rice yields, validating its role as a sustainable agricultural system that harnesses biodiversity for ecological intensification and natural pest regulation. 📹 Common carp preyed on brown planthoppers.   Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dHTBycpY