Why citrus matters
Citrus fruits are cultivated in over 140 countries and rank among the most popular fruit crops worldwide.
They’re rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber essential to well-being. Beyond nutrition, citrus is vital to several economies — notably Brazil, the largest exporter of orange juice.
Nutrition
Citrus and its products provide key micronutrients and dietary fiber.
Economy
A strategic agro-industry with strong impact on jobs and exports.
The setback
In recent years, production has declined due to pre- and post-harvest diseases.
The challenge
There is currently no efficient method for controlling or detecting key citrus diseases.
This leads to environmental risks due to excessive pesticide use and delayed responses in the field.
Our solution
Pepcitrus proposes sustainable and innovative strategies to combat citrus diseases.
Using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)—small proteins with antimicrobial activity—produced and delivered via biotechnological platforms as sustainable tools to control citrus diseases and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
See the project