The Crop Transformation Center was founded in 2023 to address the need for rapid development and commercialization of genetically improved crops and to specifically address citrus greening in Florida through advanced genetics research and product development.
The Florida Department of Citrus and UF collaborated to invest in new greenhouses, equipment, and faculty to deliver advanced agricultural solutions to Florida growers.
Our original framework enables the effective commercialization of genetically improved crops (transgenic lines) from concept to product implementation and to demonstrate the framework by introducing HLB resistant trees.
Our industry approach to designing, creating, evaluating, and commercializing traits (gene/sthat lead to crop improvement) will improve cultivars relevant to Florida growers.
Our outputs consists of a mature framework, analytical tools, and a pipeline of trees bred for disease resistance.
Transgenic and/or gene-edited elite germplasm has high potential for commercialization. Our framework focuses on maximizing the chances to deliver a commercial product beyond the ideation stage.
The creation of a diverse pipeline that builds upon optimizing gene concepts is based on the most advanced scientific understanding of HLB resistance at UF and the use of advanced computation pathology approaches (AI) will help to mitigate risks and speed outputs.
The diverse genetic pipeline offers Florida growers options and reassurances that when resistance is lost, there are other candidate traits in the pipeline to combat HLB. Research on how to grow tolerant and susceptible refuges will minimize the probability of loss of citrus
resistance.
Human dimension work adds value to the grower in the form of better understanding a) growers’ criteria to advance a genetic concept from idea to product, b) barriers to adoption and factors that can derail the project, and c) the creation of educational materials and communications to increase consumer literacy regarding the value of new and improved citrus products.
