Safeguarding Citrus: International collaboration between Australia and Indonesia, targets Huánglóngbìng threat

Hort Innovation and NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) have reaffirmed a commitment to protecting Australia’s citrus industry through international collaboration against huánglóngbìng (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease.

In May 2025, NSW DPIRD led a team from NSW DPIRD on a trip to Indonesia, where an end of project review of a major biosecurity project conducted in Indonesia took place.

This collaborative, Hort Innovation funded, research project, titled Preparedness and Management of HLB, aims to leverage global knowledge and investigate effective and efficient options to manage citrus.

Brett Fifield, CEO at Hort Innovation said on the project: “Safeguarding Australia’s citrus production is critical. Our recent Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook highlights how fast the citrus industry in Australia is growing, reaching more than $1 billion in value for the first time,” Mr Fifield said.

“To continue this growth trajectory, it is essential that we continue to protect against disease and educate growers on what may cause a threat.This project is just one example of the important role we play in safeguarding and protecting the Australian horticulture industry."

Myles Parker, NSW DPIRD Leader Southern Horticulture Systems, said the NSW Government has partnered with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Hort Innovation to prepare the citrus industry against the significant threat of an incurable citrus tree disease known as HLB.

“HLB is caused by a bacterium carried by a small plant-feeding insect, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), and is found in North and South America, Middle East (moving down to East Africa) and is widespread in Asia, including Australia’s northern neighbours,” Mr Parker said.

“In May 2025, we conducted an end of project review focusing on the ACIAR-funded project, Preparedness and Management of HLB."

“The initiative is a key part of Australia’s strategy to safeguard citrus production from the devastating citrus greening disease. Diseases like HLB are amongst the biggest threats to the viability of the Australian citrus industry."

“This project is critical to safeguarding our production base and protecting a vital horticultural industry.”

Since its commencement in 2022, the project has made significant progress, including importing Australian and US rootstocks for trialling their resistance to HLB in Indonesia, where the disease is present.

Mr Parker said an incursion of HLB would have a significant economic impact on the NSW and Australian agricultural economy.

“The project has already delivered key outcomes for the citrus sector over the course of three years, including: strengthened preparedness and detection capabilities for HLB, promoted efficient production

systems, including high-density plantings and dwarfing rootstocks, and enhancement of industry sustainability to support a resilient food supply.”

During this most recent visit to Indonesia, the project team met for project review and planning workshops with their Indonesian colleagues, including catching up with PhD students they are supervising, delivery of a workshop on citrus biosecurity at the University of Bengkulu and site visit to citrus production regions in Sumatra and Java.

“Site visits included field trials of HLB-tolerant rootstocks and inspections of citrus germplasm at the Pusat Inovasi Agroteknologi (PIAT), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM),” Mr Parker said.

“Knowledge and positive control material gained during this trip has increased our ability to detect and manage significant biosecurity risks.

“By prioritising biosecurity measures now, we can protect our growers and consumers from the devastating effects of HLB and safeguard the supply of fresh Australian citrus into the future.”

The presence of HLB and its psyllid vector in nearby regions such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea highlights the urgency of robust biosecurity systems to protect Australia’s borders.

This project is funded by the Australian Government through ACIAR, with co-investment from NSW DPIRD and Hort Innovation (Citrus R&D Fund).