Greening Threatens Orange Juice Production

With the global drop in orange juice supply, Brazil finds itself facing a critical challenge: containing the advance of greening, also known as HLB (Huanglongbing), which has already devastated groves in Florida and now threatens the national citrus belt. The disease, caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and transmitted by the citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), has no known cure, and its control depends on rapid and sustainable actions. According to Fundecitrus, the 2025/2026 harvest in Brazil should reach 314.6 million boxes, far above the 11.6 million estimated for the USA, according to the USDA Citrus Forecast. This contrast reinforces Brazil's leadership in global production, but also expands the responsibility facing a chain pressured by rising costs. Farm Atac estimates indicate that the value of frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) already exceeds US$ 1,500 per ton, while the cost per box can surpass R$ 45. The good news comes from advances in vector ...