The São Paulo state government is investing R$ 3,5 million in the fight against Greening.

The government of São Paulo, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (SAA), announced the opening of the new Public Notice SAA No. 03/2025, which aims to hire 28 professionals who will work together with Agricultural Defense officials in the fight against HLB/Greening, a disease that threatens citrus farming worldwide. The estimated annual investment for this collaboration is R$ 3,6 million.

“This is a fundamental measure for the preservation of the citrus production chain in our state. More monitoring means greater security and, consequently, greater productivity for São Paulo's orchards. São Paulo concentrates approximately 80% of national production and generated almost 50 jobs in 2024 alone,” confirms the Executive Secretary of Agriculture and Supply, Alberto Amorim.

The hiring will be done through a collaboration agreement with a Civil Society Organization (CSO) and will be valid for one year, renewable for subsequent years. The professionals will work divided into six teams, consisting of two agronomists, 24 pest inspectors, and two administrative assistants. Each team will have four pest inspectors, two agronomists, and two administrative professionals. Proposals from interested CSOs can be submitted until January 26, 2026.

“These professionals will be focused on Greening inspections, helping us to regionalize state actions and implement different measures according to the incidence of the disease,” comments Alexandre Paloschi, agricultural engineer and head of the Department of Plant Health Defense (DSV).

The teams will operate in regions to be defined, targeting strategic production points in the state in order to regionalize all productive areas. "With increased enforcement, we aim to have greater success in the effective control of the psyllid, the insect vector of the disease," adds the agronomist.

Combating Greening

The Agricultural Defense agency operates with sanitary actions, inspections, and technical guidance throughout the state, in addition to remaining at the forefront in the fight against diseases such as HLB/Greening and Citrus Canker. Current legislation establishes rigorous plant health defense measures, such as the prohibition of street vending of citrus seedlings, a practice that represents a significant risk to the health of commercial orchards. In 2025, 17549 properties were inspected for HLB, resulting in 60.316 seedlings being removed from circulation. 

In addition, 26 educational lectures were held for the general public. The Department of Agriculture maintains a direct channel for reporting abandoned or poorly managed orchards.

In May 2025, the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply published two resolutions that intensify actions to combat the disease. Resolution No. 23/2025 prohibits the planting and maintenance of host plants of the bacteria in all properties maintained or managed by the Secretariat, and Resolution No. 24/2025 prohibits the production and planting of myrtle seedlings, as well as the trade, transport and use of myrtle in urban landscaping in public and private areas throughout the state of São Paulo, except for plants intended for scientific research and duly registered with the Agricultural Defense.

Dissemination in the state

Based on the 2025 Greening Survey by the Citrus Defense Fund (Fundecitrus), the incidence of the disease in the citrus belt of São Paulo remains high, rising from 44,35% in 2024 to 47,63% in 2025, with an increase also in the average severity of affected plants, which maintains a scenario of concern for the sector. The good news is that, for the second consecutive year, there has been a reduction in the growth rate of the disease, with less progress than in previous years, in addition to a significant drop in incidence in younger orchards, indicating greater efficiency of the control strategies, eradication of diseased plants and preventive management adopted by São Paulo citrus growers.