California’s Citrus Research Board and the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources established a $1 million endowment focused on long-term sustainability of the state’s citrus industry, as growers continue to fight huanglongbing (HLB).
The money funds the President Researcher for Sustainable Citrus Clonal Protection, an endowed researcher that will provide a UC Cooperative Extension scientist a dedicated source of funds to focus on the industry’s sustainability.
The position will be based at the University of California-Lindcove Research and Extension Center, according to a news release. UC President Janet Napolitano and the Citrus Research Board each donated $500,000 for the research initiative.
“It will be invaluable in helping us to pursue critical research that will yield beneficial findings to support the sustainability of the California citrus industry,” research board chairman Dan Dreyer said in the release.
The new endowment supports the UC Citrus Clonal Protection Program, which distributes pathogen-tested, true-to-type citrus budwood to nurseries, growers and the public to propagate citrus trees for commercial and personal use, according to the release.
A selection committee will name a University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources academic to the five-year position. The endowment funds a salary, graduate student and/or program support, according to the release.
