Biotechnology eyed as citrus greening solution

Biotechnology, including the ability to alter living organisms at the genetic level, may be the only answer to the fatal citrus greening disease that threatens the future of the Florida citrus industry.That’s what a leading industry official, Ricke Kress, told about 375 citrus growers and colleagues Thursday morning at the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs. Kress is president of Southern Gardens Citrus Processing Corp. in Clewiston, one of Florida’s largest juice processors and also one of its largest growers.But Kress acknowledged the millions of dollars Southern Gardens has spent during the past 10 years on biotech solutions will mean nothing if consumers worldwide reject a genetically engineered orange juice.