Project

Innovative initiatives for citrus revival.

Florida is the largest orange producing state in the United States, contributing over 70% of the country’s citrus. Recently, an unprecedented disease threat known as Citrus Greening Disease has devastated Florida’s agricultural industry leading to 92% yield losses. Due to this threat, Florida citrus production has dropped from 242 million boxes to merely 15 million boxes over the last few decades. With no current cure, this project aimed to restore Florida Citrus and foster agricultural sustainability through 3 main approaches:

To address the lack of sustainable solutions for Citrus Greening Disease, I developed a biological treatment using Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) extract, a plant in the same family as citrus that renders the disease vector non-infective.

With over 3 years of research, I developed a Grower-Friendly Disease Management Kit:

A Sustainable Curry Leaf Extract-Based Treatment &
3D-Engineered Treatment Delivery System for Citrus Greening Disease Management.

Our research produced a breakthrough ~70% reduction in citrus greening, demonstrating a powerful, natural alternative to conventional synthetic pesticides. This innovation marks a major step forward for sustainable agriculture by lowering chemical dependency while improving plant health at scale.

The development of this next-generation, eco-friendly bactericide was built on:

300+ hours of laboratory work, including methanol extraction, steam distillation, and formulation refinement
Field validation in partnership with the USDA Grove-First program
Comprehensive scientific assessments using qPCR, chlorophyll profiling, disease-severity scoring, and NDVI/NDRE vegetation indices

Key outcomes:

65% pathogen reduction
95% boost in overall plant vigor
33% increase in qPCR Ct values, confirming measurable disease decline

This Grower-Friendly Disease Management Kit represents a sustainable alternative to chemical antibiotics, with potential broad-spectrum applications for other bacterial/fungal crop diseases.

Recognition for Research:

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair – 1st Grand Prize and Top Award for Fundamental Research
President’s Environmental Youth Award
Cornell University & University of Florida
Invention Convention U.S. Nationals – 2nd Prize and Agriculture & Environment Industry Award

Phase 1: Research & Innovation

Develop a Novel, Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Treatment for Citrus Greening Disease

man in gray dress shirt holding black camera

A vibrant citrus grove showcasing healthy trees and fruits.

Man and girl tending plants in a greenhouse.

I collaborated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Citrus Research and Development Foundation to mobilize my innovation to numerous farmers across Florida. Over 1,500 Citrus Trees were planted for citrus restoration. I was also able to distribute 11,465 trees through 16 tree donation events.

Beyond lab research, collaborating with U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as Citrus Research & Development Foundation to mobilize my innovation to numerous farmers across Florida over last two years:

1,500+ citrus trees planted in areas impacted by urban development and deforestation
16 tree donation events distributing over 11,465 perennial trees
Partnered with 30 growers across Polk and Hillsborough counties to deploy trunk injection kits to 642 citrus trees
Collaborated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Citrus Research and Development Foundation, and Cornell University to empower farmers with sustainable disease management strategies

Phase 2: Hands-On Conservation and Grower Mobilization

conservation and mobilization campaign

Recognizing the need for awareness and education:

Conducted lectures to over 1,000 individuals at farmer meetings, research symposiums, and national science competitions
Authored The Story of Oranges, a children’s book sold across three countries, to raise awareness of citrus greening and promote sustainable agriculture
Serve in leadership roles:
- Co-Chair, UN Ocean Decade Youth Advisory Council
- Youth Representative, UN FAO World Food Forum
- Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador, NOAA

woman standing writing on black chalkboard

Phase 3: Environmental Advocacy and Sustainability Education

green plant on brown soil during daytime

Education and Awareness

Impact

A vibrant citrus grove showcasing healthy trees and ripe fruit.

Researchers examining citrus plants for disease resistance.

A farmer tending to citrus trees, demonstrating sustainable practices.

A close-up of freshly harvested citrus fruits ready for market.

The Reviving Citrus Initiative combines scientific innovation, hands-on conservation, and community advocacy to:

Restore Florida’s citrus industry
Promote environmentally sustainable disease management
Empower farmers and educate future generations

This work demonstrates how personal connection, scientific innovation, and community leadership can intersect to address critical agricultural challenges, ensuring the revival of Florida’s citrus groves and the sustainability of its agricultural heritage.

Project Presentation:

https://app.biorender.com/illustrations/6604734ef894b4797025abff?slideId=1cdb9ed5-3224-48df-9d20-ed9c44c56b72

The Reviving Citrus Initiative not only serves as an avenue to save Florida’s agricultural heritage, but also a hallmark of environmental sustainability in agriculture worldwide. My research on a novel treatment for Citrus Greening can be utilized as a potential broad-spectrum alternative to chemical pesticides to treat a variety of agricultural diseases. My community-oriented initiative for hands-on conservation and farmer’s sustainability education inspires combatting agricultural challenges through environmentally friendly solutions.