Key Takeaways
- Silvec Biologics has received EPA registration for an RNA-based therapy delivery technology aimed at protecting citrus trees, announced August 10, 2026.
- The product uses a naturally non-transmitted form of the citrus tristeza virus to prompt trees to produce defensin, an antimicrobial peptide derived from spinach.
- The approach is non-GMO and does not modify the tree’s genome; the EPA registered it under FIFRA with no tolerance limit.
- The technology targets citrus greening (Huanglongbing), a disease blamed for a 95% drop in Florida citrus production in 2025 from its pre-disease peak.
- Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Silvec Biologics plans to begin grower partnerships in late 2026, building on 15 years of prior research.
Silvec Biologics Secures EPA Registration
Silvec Biologics has won federal registration for a new way to deliver disease-fighting treatments to citrus trees, the company announced on August 10, 2026. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered the RNA-based therapy delivery product under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act with no tolerance limit, clearing a path toward commercial use.
How the RNA Delivery Technology Works
The product uses a naturally non-transmitted form of the citrus tristeza virus, reprogrammed to prompt trees to produce defensin, an antimicrobial peptide found in spinach. Because the method does not alter the tree’s own genome, the company describes it as non-GMO. The registration covers a delivery platform rather than a single chemical, which the Gaithersburg, Maryland-based firm sees as a foundation for future plant treatments.
“We are excited to build on 15 years of pioneering work by Southern Gardens Citrus, the University of Florida, and Texas A&M,” said Dr. Rafael Simon, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silvec Biologics.
Silvec Biologics Targets Citrus Greening
The technology is aimed first at citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing, a bacterial disease that has hit Florida groves hard. Florida citrus production in 2025 fell about 95 percent from its pre-disease peak. The work draws on research from Southern Gardens Citrus, a subsidiary of U.S. Sugar, along with the University of Florida, Texas A&M and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
“Florida’s citrus industry is at a critical juncture, and we are depending on new approaches like Silvec’s new therapy delivery technology to ensure a viable future,” said Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida Citrus Mutual.
Next Steps
Silvec Biologics, founded in 2019, plans to begin partnerships with growers in late 2026. The company has said the registered platform could later be adapted to address other crop diseases beyond citrus.
