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Spanish citrus facing wipe-out

Story published: Wed 6 Jan 10 09:01

Spanish citrus production could disappear in a few years as it faces the threat of two citrus diseases that are not being taken seriously by the authorities, growers complain.

According to Valencia-based producers’ association Ava-Asaja, the European Commission and the Spanish national government have so far failed to understand the gravity of the situation.

The association’s studies of official figures have found that in 2009, of 94 consignments of imported citrus intercepted for disease problems in the EU, 71 of them had evidence of black spot and were rejected. The body is further dismayed that there are no protocols in place should citrus greening appear in the Mediterranean region, despite the discovery of the insect responsible for its spread in the Canary Islands and its presence in Florida and California in the US.

Ava-Asaja president Cristóbal Aguado said: “We have been saying for years that it is like playing fire. Scientists from the European Food Safety Authority have proved us right and confirmed that the threat is real, the control measures can fail and that black spot can acclimatise perfectly to our conditions. Now statistics from Europe itself are obliging us to take action, but here nobody is paying attention.”

Aguado warned "our citrus industry could disappear in just a few years”, if greening and black spot take hold.

Ivia, the research institute based in Valencia, has carried out its own studies and according to Ava-Asaja, found that the introduction of citrus greening bacteria would cause “incalculable” damage. The same study pointed out that the bacteria and the insect that carries it are both already present in Turkey’s neighbouring country of Iran.