SP invests R$4 million to expand the fight against greening

The government of São Paulo announced today (3/6), during the opening of the 50th Expocitros in Cordeirópolis, the opening of a public notice that aims to hire 28 professionals who will work together with employees of the Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA) in the fight against HLB/Greening, a disease that threatens citrus farming worldwide.

“This is a fundamental measure for the preservation of the citrus production chain in our state. More monitoring means greater productivity and safety for São Paulo’s orchards. São Paulo accounts for approximately 80% of the country’s production and generated almost 50 jobs in 2024 alone,” confirms the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply, Guilherme Piai.

The hiring will be done through a cooperation agreement with a Civil Society Organization (CSO) and will be valid for one year, with the possibility of being extended for subsequent years. The professionals will work divided into six teams with four agricultural technicians each, two agricultural engineers and two professionals from the administrative area.

“There will be professionals who will be focused on Greening inspections, helping us to regionalize the State and have different measures according to the incidence of the disease”, comments Alexandre Paloschi, agricultural engineer and director of the Department of Sanitary Defense and Plant Inspection (DDSIV).

The teams will work in regions that are yet to be defined, but will be in strategic locations in order to regionalize all the productive areas of the state. “With increased monitoring, we intend to have greater success in effectively controlling the psyllid, the insect that carries the disease,” adds the agronomist.

Combating Greening

The Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA) carries out health actions, inspections and technical guidance throughout the state, in addition to being on the front line in the fight against diseases such as Greening/HLB and Citrus Canker. Current legislation establishes strict plant health protection measures, such as the prohibition of the street trade of citrus seedlings, a practice that poses a significant risk to the health of commercial orchards. In 2024, there were 1743 HLB inspections, totaling 4.502.358 seedlings removed. In addition, 37 educational lectures were held for the general public. The Coordination maintains a direct channel for reporting abandoned or poorly managed orchards. 

In May, 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 plants that host 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 sale, transportation 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 Coordination (CDA).