SP: EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RAA, A NATURAL METABOLITE, IN CONTROLLING HLB THROUGH FOLIAR SPRAY AND A COMBINATION OF RAA WITH OXYTETRACYCLINE VIA TRUNK INJECTION

Target Audience
During this reporting period, our outreach efforts primarily focused on the farming community, industry professionals, and academic institutions. These target audiences were chosen to facilitate the practical adoption of sustainable crop disease management strategies, particularly focusing on the use of RejuAgro A (RAA) as an antibiotic alternative for managing Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus. Farming Community Our primary audience includes citrus growers and other industry stakeholders involved in citrus crop production. Reaching out to this group is critical because they are directly affected by the devastating impact of HLB and are in urgent need of effective, sustainable disease management solutions. By targeting growers, we aim to ensure that the benefits of using RAA for HLB control are well understood and implemented in the field. Additionally, our efforts support farmers in transitioning to more environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing both crop health and long-term viability. Industry Professionals Dr. Yang attended the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) in Basel, Switzerland, a major event in the global biocontrol industry. At ABIM, discussions with biocontrol companies, regulators, and fellow researchers centered around the commercialization of biopesticides like RejuAgro A, as well as navigating regulatory frameworks. This outreach was crucial in understanding market trends and aligning our product development with regulatory standards and global agricultural demands. Engaging with industry professionals ensures that our research into RAA is ready for market, facilitating its broad adoption in the citrus industry. Dr. Yang also served as an Invited Speaker at the 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology in Lyon, France, which broadened our outreach to a global network of plant pathology professionals. This platform enabled us to present our findings on RejuAgro A and its potential in HLB management, engaging with experts who are crucial for advancing disease management solutions in the agricultural sector. Collaborators in Product Development We have a key collaboration with IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer, LLC, focusing on stakeholders involved in product development, registration, and technology licensing within the crop protection industry. These partnerships play a crucial role in aligning our efforts with current market trends, regulatory requirements, and consumer expectations. IR-4, in particular, has been instrumental in guiding the registration process for RejuAgro A, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards for agricultural biopesticides. Meanwhile, Dunham Trimmer's industry expertise has provided invaluable insights into product development and commercialization strategies, helping us tailor our research to meet the needs of farmers and industry professionals. Together, IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer, LLC, have helped us navigate the complex landscape of biopesticide development, ensuring that RejuAgro A is not only effective in managing HLB but also commercially viable and accessible to growers. By leveraging these collaborations, we are able to bring sustainable, science-based solutions like RejuAgro A to the forefront of citrus crop protection. Academic and Research Institutions Dr. Yang's presentations at several academic institutions, including Academia Sinica, National Chung Hsing University, and the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, further broadened our outreach to academics and researchers. These presentations focused on transitioning natural metabolites, like RAA, from research to commercial products and explored innovative strategies for crop disease management. Engaging with these institutions allowed us to share cutting-edge research findings and foster collaborations that are essential for advancing the understanding and application of natural metabolites in sustainable agriculture. Through these targeted efforts, we have reached a diverse audience, from farmers and industry professionals to academic researchers, all of whom play a crucial role in the adoption and success of RejuAgro A as a sustainable solution for managing citrus HLB. Our goal is to continue expanding these efforts over the next reporting periods, ensuring broader adoption and awareness of this innovative biopesticide.

Changes / Problems
Since the project was funded in September 2023, we have made significant progress, particularly in developing a stable RAA powder formulation for foliar spray applications. The formulation utilizes equipment and inert ingredients that comply with EPA regulations. This RAA powder is currently undergoing testing in both greenhouse and field assays to evaluate its efficacy in managing citrus HLB. However, a challenge has emerged with the proposed use of the formulated RAA powder for trunk injection. The inert carrier ingredients in the powder tend to clog the injection equipment, leading to difficulties in applying the product via this method. As a result, we are revisiting our approach to trunk injection and may need to explore alternative formulations or application methods that avoid clogging issues. This deviation from the original plan has not impacted the ongoing foliar spray applications, but it requires further investigation to identify a suitable solution for trunk injection. No other significant deviations from the research schedule or goals have occurred at this time, and the project remains on track. We continue to monitor these developments and will adjust our protocols as necessary to ensure effective HLB management with RAA.

Training & Professional Development
This project has provided a range of opportunities for training and professional development, benefiting both the research team and the broader farming community, with a focus on enhancing technical skills and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Hands-on Training and Grassroots Engagement: One of the primary training opportunities was created through direct interactions with local farmers. These grassroots engagements facilitated in-depth discussions about managing Huanglongbing (HLB) with a focus on antibiotic alternatives, such as RejuAgro A (RAA), developed in our research. By working closely with farmers, we were able to customize training and solutions to address the specific challenges they face in the field, ensuring that the recommendations were both practical and easy to implement. Farmers gained valuable knowledge on how to incorporate sustainable, non-antibiotic treatments like RAA into their operations, promoting environmentally friendly HLB management. Mentorship and Skill Development for Researchers: Graduate students and research assistants on the project benefited from one-on-one mentorship with Dr. Yang. This mentorship covered a wide range of skills, including managing field trials, collecting data, performing statistical analysis, and applying biopesticide techniques. The training also focused on developing expertise in sustainable agricultural practices and advanced research methodologies. This hands-on guidance helped the research team enhance their proficiency in fieldwork and strengthened their ability to contribute to sustainable crop management. Professional Development through Conferences and Networking: Dr. Yang's participation in two key conferences-- the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) in Basel, Switzerland, and the 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology in Lyon, France--offered significant professional development opportunities. At these events, Dr. Yang presented the team's research on RejuAgro A to an international audience, gaining insights into global trends in sustainable agriculture. The conferences also provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing Dr. Yang to engage with industry professionals, researchers, and key stakeholders in the bippesticide industry. This exposure helped broaden the team's understanding of market needs and regulatory trends in agricultural innovation. Collaboration with IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer, LLC: Our collaboration with IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer, LLC, has been vital in targeting stakeholders involved in product development, registration, and technology licensing within the crop protection industry. This partnership enabled the research team to engage with market trends and consumer preferences, aligning the commercialization strategy of RejuAgro A with industry expectations. IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer's expertise provided crucial insights into navigating the complexities of product registration and licensing, enhancing the team's understanding of how to bring agricultural innovations like RAA to market. The collaboration also provided the team with a deeper knowledge of the regulatory and commercial landscape, which is essential for scaling the project's impact in citrus farming communities.

Dissemination Streams
Our dissemination strategy during this reporting period targeted key audiences, including local citrus growers, industry professionals in the biocontrol and crop protection sectors, as well as the broader scientific community. Through these efforts, we ensured that the research findings on RejuAgro A (RAA), a natural metabolite for managing HLB, reached the relevant communities most likely to benefit from the outcomes. Dissemination to Industry Professionals: During the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) in Basel, Switzerland, we shared our findings on RejuAgro A with biocontrol companies, product developers, and regulatory professionals. This event provided a platform for discussing the commercialization of sustainable biopesticides like RAA. Engaging with industry professionals in this setting ensured that the research was directly connected to those responsible for developing and bringing biocontrol products to market, influencing both product development and regulatory compliance strategies. Our collaboration with IR-4, Delta Analytical Corporation, and Dunham Trimmer, LLC also played a significant role in the dissemination of our findings. These partnerships allowed us to share our research with stakeholders involved in product development, registration, and technology licensing within the crop protection industry. Dunham Trimmer's expertise helped align our product development efforts with current market trends and regulatory standards, making it easier to reach farmers and industry leaders with effective, commercially viable solutions for HLB management. Outreach to the Scientific Community: Dr. Yang presented our research on RejuAgro A at the 12th International Congress of Plant Pathology in Lyon, France, which provided an international platform to reach scientists working in sustainable crop disease management. This presentation highlighted the use of natural biopesticides, such as RAA, as an alternative to antibiotics in managing HLB. By disseminating our findings to a global audience of researchers, we fostered potential collaborations and stimulated further advancements in sustainable disease management practices. Engagement with Local Growers: Our outreach efforts extended to local citrus growers, where we engaged in direct interactions to discuss the practical implementation of RejuAgro A in managing HLB. These conversations focused on the benefits of adopting non-antibiotic, sustainable treatments like RAA, providing growers with the knowledge and tools to improve citrus health while reducing their reliance on conventional chemical treatments. These grassroots efforts ensured that the results of our research were accessible to farmers who may not typically be exposed to such scientific findings, enhancing public understanding of sustainable agriculture and increasing interest in adopting innovative biopesticide solutions. Through these targeted dissemination efforts, we ensured that our research findings on HLB management using RejuAgro A reached industry professionals, scientists, and local growers. By focusing on the practical and commercial aspects of sustainable HLB management, we fostered greater awareness of non-antibiotic alternatives, promoting both the application and further research of RejuAgro A as a viable solution for citrus growers.

Next Reporting Steps
Further Field Trials: Building on the success of this year's results, we will continue monitoring our ongoing field trial to further evaluate the long-term effectiveness of RejuAgro A (RAA) in HLB management, as this is a three-year study. In addition, we plan to explore the impact of RAA on HLB-infected trees through foliar spray applications. This will allow us to assess whether RAA can reduce the severity of HLB in already infected trees and improve overall tree health. Expansion of Outreach Efforts: Our outreach initiatives will be expanded to engage more citrus growers, with the goal of sharing our findings and promoting sustainable practices in HLB management. We also plan to increase our participation in key industry conferences to engage a broader audience of stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, and industry professionals. Furthermore, we will work to disseminate our findings to a wider farming community, providing insights into using RAA as a non-antibiotic solution for HLB management. Commercial Development: We will intensify our efforts to collaborate with industry partners, particularly to facilitate the commercialization of RejuAgro A as a sustainable and non-antibiotic solution for HLB management. Our focus will be on navigating regulatory requirements and aligning our product with market demands to ensure successful commercialization. Addressing any regulatory challenges and aligning the product with industry expectations will be a key priority to bring this innovative solution to market.