In a recent presentation in Brussels, representatives of the citrus sector from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal raised concerns about the expansion of pests in the production of citrus fruits on the continent.
Europe produces nearly 11 million tons of citrus fruits a year worth 7,500 million euro. The citrus sector employs 400,000 people and their transport moves 600,000 vehicles every campaign, according to data from Asaja. Spain is the largest producer of citrus in Europe and the world's fifth largest producer. The activity generates more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.
The world has 10.2 million hectares devoted to citrus production distributed in 136 countries which produce 162 million tons of citrus a year. Spain, with 4.1% of the total, is only behind China (with 28.6% of the total), Brazil (11.7%), India (8.8%), and Mexico (5.5%).
The importance of European citrus farming is such that representatives of the European Commission (EC) and the agricultural sector requested in the last edition of the “Life Vida for Citrus” project that the continental health authorities reinforce controls on the fruit from Egypt.
The most feared plague
Spanish producers fear the arrival of HLB or greening. It is a bacterium that generates serious losses in crops, and there's no cure for it. "One of the insect vectors that transmit this disease has already been detected in Spain and Portugal, and the means of controlling it have a high environmental cost," sector voices stated. As a result of this problem, the release of micro wasps and the creation of plants resistant to the disease is being studied.
In addition, Spanish producers are dealing with competition from Morocco, Turkey, and Mercosur. “The EU has signed a trade agreement, pending ratification, which raises many questions,” they stated.
Source: infocampo.com